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'    ^  JUN  11  1952    , 


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DOCTRINE, 


CONSTITUTION  AND  DISCIPLINE, 


OF   THE  , 

UNITED  BRETHEEN  IN  CHRIST. 


DAYTON,  O., 

UNITED    BEETHREN   PEINTINQ    ESTABLISHMEirT 

1869. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Ardent  Spirits 90 

Bisliops— Election  and  duties  uf. 54 

Building  of  Meeting-lioucit's 103 

Burial  of  the  Dead 125 

Boundaries  of  Confei-enccs 134 

Alleghany .^. 136 

Auglaize ,.,.-..'. 141 

Oalifori)ia :,!.. 154 

Cascade i..' 154 

De8  Moinee,  East 152 

Des  Moines,  West »...,. 153 

Erie 137 

Fox  River I'.O 

German,  East 165 

Illinois 148 

Illinois  Central 149 

Indiana 145 

Iowa 15] 

Iowa,  North 151 

Kansas 154 

Michigan US 

Missouri 153 

Miami 142 

Minnesota 151 

Muskingum , 138 

Oregon < , 154 

Osage 154 

Ontauo 154 

Ohio,  German ,.,..... 155 

Ohio.  North : 142 

Pennsylvania 135 

Parkersburg 146 

Pennsylvania,  East 134 

Hock  River 149 

Scioto 139 

St.  Joseph „ 143 

Sandusky ■. 140 

Tennessee -. 155 

Virginia... 134 

Wabash,  Upper 147 

Wabash,  Lower v 147 

White  River 144 

(iii) 


IV  CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

Western  Reserve 137 

Wiscousin 150 

Confession  of  Faith 14 

Constitution 17 

Constitution  of  Mif^siouary  Society 110 

Conference,  (leTieml 38 

"  Annual 42 

"  Quarterly 68 

Course  of  Reading 126 

"  "       German \3% 

Classes 28 

Charters 131 

Certificates 132 

Church  Erection  Society 116 

Doctrinal  Publications 88 

Exhorters 31 

Elders— Election  of 59 

"         Duties  of 65 

"         Ordination  of. 62 

"         Presiding  66 

Itineracy— Organization  of, 46 

Members — Reception  of..... 21 

Trial  of. 76 

Marriage  Ceremony 122 

Origin  of  the  Church 5 

Official  Meetings 74 

Oaths 89 

Preachers — Reception  of. 32 

"  Duties  of 35 

"  Itinerant— Duties  of 49 

"  Immoral  Conduct  of.. 81 

Printing  Establishment 119 

Salaries 84 

Sabbath-Schools 94 

Secret  Societies 85 

Slavery •'... 87 

Singing 109 

Union — Necessity  of 90 

"Visiting '. 92 

War 88 


ORIGIN 

OP    THE     • 

UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST, 


In  the  eigliteenth  century  it  pleased 
the  Lord  our  Grod  to  awaken  persons 
in  different  parts  of  the  world,  who 
should  raise  up  the  Christian  religion 
from  its  fallen  stat«,  and  preach  the 
gospel  of  Christ  crucified  in  its  purity. 

About  the  middle  of  the  said  cen- 
tury, the  Lord,  in  mercy,  remembered 
the  Germans  in  America,  who,  living 
scattered  in  this  extensive  country,  had 
but  seldom  an  opportunity  to  hear  the 
gospel  of  a  crucified  Savior  preached 
to  them  in  their  native  language. 

Among  others,  he  raised  up  William 
Otterbein  and  Martin  Boehm,  in  the 

5 


6  UNITED    BRETHREN 

state  of  Pennsylvania,  and  George  A. 
GrEETiNG  in  the  state  of  Maryland — 
armed  them  with  spirit,  grace,  and 
strength,  to  labor  in  his  neglected  vine- 
yard, and  to  call,  among  the  Grermans  in 
America,  sianers  to  repentance.  These 
men  obeyed  the  call  of  their  Lord  and 
Master.  Their  labors  were  blest,  and 
they  established  in  many  places  excel- 
lent societies,  and  led  many  precious 
souls  to  Jesus  Christ.  Their  sphere  of 
action  spread  more  and  more,  so  that 
they  found  it  necessary  to  look  about  for 
more  fellow-laborers  to  engage  in  the 
vineyard  of  the  Lord,  for  the  harvest 
was  great  and  the  laborers  but  few. 
The  Lord  called  others,  who  were  will- 
ing to  devote  their  strength  to  his  serv- 
ice; such,  then,  were  accepted  by  one 
or  other  of  the  preachers  as  fellow-la- 
borers. 

The  number  of  members  in  the  So- 
ciety in  different  parts  of  the  country, 


DISCIPLINE.  7 

continued  to  increase  from  time  to  time; 
and  the  gracious  work  of  reformation 
spread  through  the  states  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, Maryland  and  Virginia.  Several 
great  meetings  were  appointed  and  held 
annually;  when  on  such  occasions  Ot- 
TERBEIN  would  hold  particular  conver- 
sations with  the  preachers  then  present, 
represent  to  them  the  importance  of  the 
ministry,  and  the  necessity  of  their  ut- 
most endeavors  to  save  souls.  At  one 
of  these  meetings,  it  was  resolved  to 
hold  a  conference  with  all  the  preach- 
ers, in  order  to  take  into  consideration 
how,  and  in  what  manner,  they  might 
be  most  useful. 

The  first  Conference  was  held  in  the 
City  of  Baltimore,  Maryland,  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord,  1789.  The  follow- 
ing preachers  were  present,  viz : 

Wm.  Otterbein,  Adam  Lehman, 

Maetin  Boehm,  John  Ernst, 

Geo.  a.  Geeting,        Henry  Weidneb, 


8  UNITED    BRETHREN 

The  second  conference  was  held  in 
Paradise  township,  York  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, at  the  house  of  Bro.  Spang- 
LER,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1791. 
The  following  preachers  were  present, 

viz: 

Wm.  Otterbein,         John  Eenbt, 
Maetin  Boehm,  J.  G.  Pfrimmee, 

Geo.  a.  Geexing,       John  Neidig, 
Ch'n.  Newcomer,      Benedict  Sanders, 
Adam  Lehman. 

After  mature  deliberation  how  they 
might  labor  most  usefully  in  the  vine- 
yard of  the  Lord,  they  again  appointed 
guch  as  fellow-laborers  whom  they  had 
cause  to  believe  had  experienced  true 
religion  in  their  souls. 

In  the  meantime,  the  number  of 
members  continued  to  increase,  and  the 
preachers  were  obliged  to  appoint  an 
annual  conference,  in  order  to  unite 
themselves  more  closely,  and  to  labor 
more  successfully  in  the  vineyard  of 
the  Lord;  for  some 'had  been  Presby- 


mSCIPLINE.  9 

terians  or  German  Reformed ;  some 
Lutherans,  and  others  Mennonites. 
They  accordingly  appointed  a  confer- 
ence to  be  held  on  the  25th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1800,  in  Frederick  county,  Mary- 
land, at  the  house  of  Bro.  Frederick 
Kemp.  The  following  preachers  were 
present,  viz : 

Wm.  Otteubein,  Christian  Keum, 

Martin  Boehm,  Henry  Krum, 

Geo.  a.  Geeting,        John  Hershey, 
Ch'n  Newcomer,         Jacob  Geisingee, 
Adam  Lehman,  Henry  Boehm, 

Abraham  Tracksel,   Diet'k  Aurand, 
J,  G.  Pfrimmer. 

There  they  united  themselves  into  a 
society  which  bears  the  name,  "  United 
Brethren  in  Christ,"  and  elected 
Wm.  Otterbein  and  Martin  Boehm, 
as  superintendents  or  bishops,  and 
agreed  that  each  of  them  should  be  at 
liberty  as  to  the  mode  and  manner  of 
baptism,  to  perform  it  according  to  his 
own  convictions. 


iO  UNITED    BRETHREN 

From  this  time,  the  sobiety  increas- 
ing still  more  and  more,  preachers  were 
appointed  to  travel  regularly,  inas^much 
as  the  number  of  preaching  places 
eould  not  otherwise  be  attended  to ; 
and  the  work  spread  itself  into  the 
states  of  Ohio  and  Kentucky.  It  then 
became  necessary  to  appoint  a  confer- 
ence in  the  state  of  Ohio,  because  it 
was  conceived  too  laborious  for  the 
preachers  who  labored  in  those  states 
to  travel  annually  such  a  great  distance 
to  conference. 

In  the  meantime,  brothers  BoEHM 
and  GrEETiNG  died,  and  brother  Otter- 
BEIN  desired  that  another  bishop  should 
be  elected  (because  infirmity  and  old 
age  would  not  permit  him  to  superin- 
tend any  longer),  who  should  take 
charge  of  the  society,  and  preserve  dis- 
cipline and  order.  It  was  resolved  at  a 
former  conference,  that  whenever  one 
of  the  bishops  died  another  should  be 


DISCIPLINE.  11 

elected  in  his  place :  accordingly  brother 
Christian  Newcomer  was  elected 
Bishop,  to  take  charge  of,  and  superin- 
tend the  concerns  of  the  society. 

The  want  of  a  Discipline  in  the  So- 
ciety had  long  been  deeply  felt,  and 
partial  attempts  having  been  made  at 
different  timesf  it  was  resolved  at  the 
conference  held  in  the  state  of  Ohio, 
that  a  general  conference  should  be 
held  in  order  to  accomplish  the  same, 
in  a  manner  not  derogatory  to  the  Word 
of  God.  The  members  of  this  confer- 
ence were  to  be  elected  from  among  the 
preachers  in  the  different  parts  of  the 
country,  by  a  vote  of  the  Society  in 
general.  The  following  brethren  were 
duly  elected,  viz  : 

Ch'n  Newcomer,        Daniel  Troter, 
Abr'm  Heibtaxd,        Geo.  Benedum, 
Andrew  Zeller,         Abr'm  Tracksel, 
Christian  Berger,      Henry  G.  Spatth, 
Abraham  Mykr,        I.  Nighswangee, 
John  Schneider,        Christian  Keum, 
Henry  Kumler,         Jacob  Bowlus. 


12  UNITED    BRETHREN 

The  conference  convened  on  the  6th 
of  June,  1815,  near  Mount  Pleasant, 
Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania. 
After  mature  deliberation,  they  pre- 
sented to  their  brethren  a  discipline, 
containing  the  doctrine  and  rules  of  the 
Church,  desiring  that  they,  together 
with  the  Word  of  God,  should  be  strict- 
ly observed. 

God  is  a  God  of  order,  but  where 
there  is  no  order  nor  church  discipline, 
the  spirit  of  love  and  charity  will  be 
lost. 

Therefore,  brethren,  we  beseech  you 
to  follow  the  example  of  our  Lord ;  as 
it  is  written,  "Be  kindly  affectioned 
one  to  another,  with  brotherly  love ;  in 
honor  preferring  one  another.  Let  the 
mind  be  in  you  which  was  in  Christ, 
who  took  upon  him  the  form  of  a  serv- 
ant, humbled  himself,  and  became 
obedient  unto  death,  even  the  death  of 
the  cross,"   that   by  his  grace  we  may 


DISCIPLINE.  13 

submit  ourselves  one  to  another  in  the 
fear  of  Grod.  He  who  will  not  submit 
is  in  want  of  humble  love.  Jesus  said, 
**  Whosoever  will  be  chief  among  you, 
let  him  be  your  servant.  By  this  shall 
all  men  know  that  ye  are  my  disciples, 
if  ye  have  love  one  to  another;  and 
whoso  loveth  not  his  brother  abideth  in 
death."  Let  us  walk  in  newness  of 
life,  that  the  prayer  of  our  Lord  may 
be  answered  in  us :  that  we  may  be  one 
in  him,  and  that  he  may  give  us  the 
glory  which  he  gave  to  his  disciples, 
that  we  may  be  one  even  as  He  and  the 
Father  are  one.  Therefore,  beloved 
brethren,  let  us  strive  to  be  like-mind- 
ed, having  the  same  love,  being  of  one 
accord,  of  one  min.d.  Let  no  one 
speak  or  think  evil  of  his  brother,  but 
pray  God  that  he  may  grant  us  His 
Spirit  and  an  earnest  desire  to  lead  a 
truly  devoted  life,  to  the  honor  and 
glory  of  His  holy  name.     Amen. 


14  UNITED    BRETHREN 

SECTION    I. 
CONFESSION  OF  FAITH. 

In  the  name  of  G^od  we  declare  and 
confess  before  all  men,  that  we  believe 
in  the  only  true  Grod,  the  Father,  the 
Son  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  that  these 
three  are  one:  the  Father  in  the  Son, 
the  Son  in  the  Father,  and  the  Holy 
G-host  equal  in  essence  or  being  with 
both;  that  this  triune  God  created  the 
heavens  and  the  earth,  and  all  that  in 
them  is,  visible  as  well  as  invisible, 
and  furthermore  sustains,  governs,  pro- 
tects, and  supports  the  same. 

We  believe  in  Jesus  Christ;  that 
He  is  very  God  and  man;  that  he  be- 
came incarnate  by  the  power  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  in  the  virgin  Mary,  and 
was  born  of  her ;  that  he  is  the  Savior 
and  Mediator  of  the  whole  human  race, 


DISCIPLINE.  15 

if  they  with  full  faith  in  him  accept  the 
grace  proffered  in  Jesus;  that  this  Je- 
sus suffered  and  died  on  thfe  cross  for 
us,  was  buried,  arose  again  on  the  third 
day,  ascended  into  heaven,  and  sitteth 
on  the  right  hand  of  Grod,  to  intercede 
for  us ;  and  that  he  shall  come  again  at 
the  last  day,  to  judge  the  quick  and 
the  dead. 

We  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost ;  that 
he  is  equal  in  being  with  the  Father 
and  the  Son,  and  that  he  comforts  the 
faithful,  and  guides  them  into  all  truth. 

We  believe  in  a  holy  Christian 
church,  the  communion  of  saints,  the 
resurrection  of  the  body,  and  life  ever- 
lasting. 

We  believe  that  the  Holy  Bible,  Old 
and  New  Testament,  is  the  word  of 
God ;  that  it  contains  the  only  true  way 
to  our  salvation ;  that  every  true  Chris- 
tian is  bound  to  acknowledge  and  re- 
ceive it  with  the  influence  of  the  Spirit 


16  UNITED    BRi;THREN 

of  God,  as  the  only  rule  and  guide ;  and 
that  without  faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  true 
repentance,  forgiveness  of  sins,  and 
following  after  Christ,  no  one  citn  be  a 
true  Christian. 

We  also  believe  that  what  is  con- 
tained in  the  Holy  Scriptures,  to  wit : 
the  fall  in  Adam  and  redemption 
through  Jesus  Christ,  shall  be  preached 
throughout  the  world. 

We  believe  that  the  ordinances,  viz : 
baptism  and  the  remembrance  of  the 
sufferings  and  death  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  are  to  be  in  use,  and  practiced 
by  all  Christian  societies ;  and  that  it  is. 
incumbent  on  all  the  children  of  God 
particularly  to  practice  them ;  but  the 
manner  in  which  ought  always  to  be 
left  to  the  judgment  and  understanding 
of  every  individual.  Also  the  example 
of  washing  feet  is  left  to  the  judgment 
of  every  one,  to  practice  or  not :  but  it 
is  not  becoming  for  any  of  our  preach- 


DISCIPLINJE.  17 

ers  or  mombers  to  traduce  any  of  their 
brethren  whose  judgment  and  under- 
standing in  these  respects  is  different 
from  their  own,  either  in  public  or  pri- 
vate. Whosoever  shall  make  himself 
guilty  in  this  respect,  shall  be  consid- 
ered a  traducer  of  his  brethren,  and 
shall  be  answerable  for  the  same. 

SEX^TION    II. 

CONSTITUTION. 
We,  the  members  of  the  Church  of 
the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  in 
the  name  of  God,  do,  for  the  perfecting 
of  the  saints,  for  the  work  of  the  min- 
istry, for  the  edifying  of  the  body  of 
Christ,  as  well  as  to  produce  and  secure 
a  uniform  mode  of  action,  in  faith  and 
practice,  also  to  define  the  powers  and 
the  business  of  quarterly,  annual  and 
general  conferences,  as  recognized  by 
this  Church,  ordain  the  following  arti- 
cles of  Constitution. 
2 


18  UNITED    BRETHREN 

AKnCLE    I. 

Section  X.  All  ecclesiastical  power 
herein  granted,  to  make  or  repeal  any 
rule  of  discipline,  is  vested  in  a  gen- 
eral conference,  which  shall  consist  of 
elders,  elected  by  the  members  in  every 
conference  district  throughout  the  So- 
ciety ;  provided,  however,  such  elders 
shall  have  stood  in  that  capacity  three 
years,  in  the  conference  district  to 
which  they  belong. 

Sec.  2.  General  conference  is  to  be 
held  every  four  years;  the  bishops  to 
be  considered  members  and  presiding 
officers. 

Sec.  3.  Each  annual  conference 
shall  place  before  the  Society  the  names 
of  all  the  elders  eligible  to  member- 
*!hip  in  the  general  conference. 

ARTICLE    II. 

Section  1.  The  general  conference 
[ihall  define  the  boundaries  of  the  an- 
nual conferences.  ' 


DISCIPLINE.  19 

Sec.  2.  The  general  conference 
shall,  at  every  session,  elect  bishops 
from  among  the  elders  tb'-oughout  the 
Church,  who  have  stood  six  years  in 
that  capacity. 

Sec.  3.  The  business  of  each  an- 
nual conference  shall  be  done  strictly 
according  to  Discipline  ;  and  any  an- 
nual conference  acting  contrary  there- 
unto, shall,  by  impeachment,  be  tried 
by  the  General  Conference. 

Sec.  4.  No  rule  or  ordinance  shall 
at  any  time  be  passed,  to  change  or  do 
away  the  Confession  of  Faith  as  it  now 
stands,  nor  to  destroy  the  itinerant 
plan. 

Sec.  5.  There  shall  no  rule  be 
adopted  that  will  infringe  upon ,  the 
rights  of  any  as  it  relates  to  the  mode 
of  baptism,  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
supper,  or  the  washing  of  feet. 

Sec.  6.    There  shall  be  no  rule  made 


20  UNITED    BRETHREN 

that  will  deprive  local  preacliers  of  their 
votes  iu  the  annual  conferences  to 
which  they  severally  belong. 

Sec.  7.  There  shall  be  no  connec- 
tion with  secret  combinations,  nor  shall 
involuntary  servitude  be  tolerated  in 
any  way. 

Sec.  8.  The  right  of  appeal  shall  be 
inviolate. 


ARTICLE    III. 

The  right,  title,  interest,  and  claim 
of  all  property,  whether  consisting  in 
lots  of  ground,  meetiug-houses,  lega- 
cies, bequests  or  donations  of  any  kind, 
obtained  by  purchase  or  otherwise,  by 
any  person  or  persons,  for  the  use, 
benefit,  and  behoof  of  the  church  of 
the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  is  here- 
by fully  recognized  and  held  to  be  the 
property  of  the  Church  aforesaid. 


I 


DISCIPLINE.  21 

ARTICLE    IV. 

There  shall  be  no  alteration  of  the 
foregoing  Constitution,  unless  by  re- 
quest of  two-thirds  of  the  whole  So- 
ciety. 

SECTION   III. 

RECEPTION    AND    DUTIES    OF    MEM- 
BERS. 

Ques.  How  shall  members  be  taken 
into  our  Society  ? 

Ans.  When  at  any  meeting  a  per- 
son makes  known  a  design  to  become 
a  member  of  our  Society,  then  the 
preacher  present  shall  ask  such  person 
the  following  questions : 

1.  Do  ycu  believe  the  Bible  to  be 
the  word  of  God  ? 

2.  Have  you  experienced  the  pardon 
of  your  sins,  and  are  you  determined 
by  the  grace  of  God  to  save  your 
soul  ? 


22  UNITED    BRETHREN 

3.  Are  you  willing  to  be  governed 
by  our  CliurcK  discipline  ? 

1.  If  the  person  answer  the  above 
questions  in  tl.e  alBrniiitive,  and  no 
lawful  objections  be  made  by  any  mem- 
ber on  aC':ount  of  immoral  conduct, 
then  the  preacher  shall  give  his  right 
hand  to  such  pc/son  as  a  member  of 
our  Society,  and  record  the  name  on 
the  Church  or  class-book  ;  but  so  long 
as  any  person  can  not  answer  the  above 
questions  in  the  affirmative,  such  per- 
son shall  not  be  considered  in  full 
membership,  and  shall  have  no  vote  in 
the  Society,  but  shall  be  recognized  as 
a  seeker,  under  the  watch- care  of  the 
Church. 

2.  If  any  persons  thus  received  un- 
der the  watch -care  of  the  Church  shall 
cease  to  manifest  a  desire  to  seek  the 
Lord,  the  preacher  in  charge,  by  the 
consent  of  the  class,  can,  at  any  time, 
after  personal  labor  for  their  salvation 


DISCIPLINE.  23 

by  the  preacher  in  charge,  or  class- 
leader,  publicly  djfop  the  name  of  such 
seekers. 

3.  All  members  of  this  Society 
shall  acknowledge  and  confess  that 
they  believe  the  word  of  God ;  that 
they  will  hencefo/"th  strive,  with  all 
their  hearts,  to  seek  their  eternal 
welfare  in  Christ  Jesus,  and  work  out 
their  salvation  with  fear  and  trembling, 
to  the  end  that  they  may  be  enabled 
to  flee  from  the  wrath  to  come. 

4.  Every  member  shall  endeavor  to 
lead  a  good  life  ;  be  diligent  in  prayer, 
particularly  in  private,' and,  for  his 
own  edification,  attend,  when  practica- 
ble, all  of  our  prayer  and  class-meet- 
ings, and  meetings  for  public  worship. 

5.  Heads  of  families  should  never 
omit  to  pray  with  their  families,  morn- 
ings and  evenings,  and  set  them  a  good 
example  in  all  the  Christian  virtues. 

6.  Every  one  should  strive  to  walk 


24c  UNITED    BRETHREN 

as  in  the  presence  of  God ;  also,  accus- 
tom himself  to  a  close  communion  with 
God  in  all  his  employments,  and  never 
speak  evil  of  his  fellow  beings,  but 
practice  love  toward  friend  knd  foe  ;  do 
good  to  the  poor,  and  endeavor  to  be  a 
follower  of  Jesus  Christ  indeed. 

7.  Every  one  shall  keep  the  Sabbath- 
day  holy,  as  required  in  the  word  of 
God ;  neither  buy  nor  sell,  but  spend 
the  same  in  exercises  of  devotion,  in 
reading  and  hearing  the  word  of  God, 
and  with  singing  spiritual  hymns  to  the 
honor  and  glory  of  God. 

8.  It  is  the  duty  of  every  member  to 
lead  a  quiet,  peaceable,  and  godly  life 
among  men,  as  it  becomes  a  Christian 
to  live  in  peace,  and  be  subject  to  the 
higher  or  ruling  powers,  as  the  word 
of  God  requires. 

9.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  our 
members  to  encourage  our  Sabbath- 
schools  by  their  presence  when  practi- 


DISCIPLINE.  25 

cable,  and  always  lend  them  their  aid 
and  influence. 

10.  It  is  the  duty  of  all  members  of 
the  Church  to  pay  toward  the  support 
of  the  itinerant  ministry,  quarterly,  or 
oftener  if  need  be,  in  proportion  to 
their  ability,  as  Grod  has  prospered 
them  ;  for  the  Lord  hath  ordained  that 
they  who  preach  the  Gospel  shall  live 
by  the  Gospel.  1st  Cor.  ix,  14th  verse. 
1st  Tim.  V,  18. 

11.  Each  member  of  our  Society 
should  willingly  and  freely  contribute 
quarterly,  or  oftener,  if  need  be,  as 
God  has  prospered  him  or  her  (1st 
Cor.  xvi:  2),  to  the  support  of  the 
helpless  poor. 

12.  When  it  is  known  by  any  of  our 
class-leaders  that  there  are  poor  mem- 
bers among  them,  who,  by  sickness,  ac- 
cident, or  other  unavoidable  circum- 
stances, have  been  brought  to  want,  it 
ehall   be    the    duty   of   the    leader    in 


26  UNITED    BRETHREN 

charge  to  go,  or  appoint  one  to  wait 
upon  the  class,  to  ask  alms,  money, 
clothing,  or  produce,  as  the  circum- 
stances may  require ;  and  should  any 
one  class  be  too  poor  to  alleviate  its 
poor,  it  shall  then  be  made  known  to 
the  preacher  in  charge,  whose  duty  it 
shall  be  to  inform  the  different  classes 
on  his  circuit ;  and  if  it  should  so  hap- 
pen that  any  one  circuit  should  be  in- 
sufficient to  meet  the  wants  of  its  poor, 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  presiding 
elder  to  present  the  matter  on  the  dif- 
ferent circuits  at  their  quarterly  con- 
ferences, so  that,  the  unavoidably  poor 
of  our  Church  may  be  considered  and 
provided  for.  1  John,  iii :  17.  Ps. 
xli :  1,  2. 

The  foregoing  rules  are  drawn  up 
for  the  better  regulation  of  our  Society ; 
and  we  believe  they  are  founded  in  the 
word  of  God,  and  incumbent  on  all  who 
are  members  of  our  Church  to  observe. 


iVlStnPLINE.  27 

Should  any  violate  or  liabitually  neglect 
these  rules,  they  shall  be,  by  their  re- 
spective class-leaders,  admonished  to 
reformation  ;  and  should  they  not  re- 
form, they  shall  be  suspended  or  ex- 
pelled, as  the  case  may  require. 

Inasmuch  as  the  Lord  has  com- 
manded us  not  to  be  conformed  to  this 
world  (llom.  xii :  2),  to  lay  apart  nil 
filthiness,  and  superfluity  of  iiauiihti- 
ness  (James  i :  21),  and  a?  the  princi- 
ples of  the  Christian  religion,  as  taught 
both  by  the  precepts  and  example  of 
the  meek  and  adorable  Savior,  are  i« 
strict  and  perfect  accordance  with  these 
commandments  :  We  therefore  humbly 
beseech  and  admonish  the  members  of 
our  Church  to  observe  these  divine 
precepts,  especially  in  the  wearing  of 
gold  and  jewels,  which  is  forbidden  ex- 
pressly in  the  word  of  God,  and  also 
in  the  wearing  of  artificials,  and  buying, 
and   making  and  wearing  of  apparel, 


28  UNITED    BRETHREN 

and  the  cutting  and  wearing  of  the 
hair — most  ESPECIALLY  our  ministers 
and  their  families,  they  being  ensam- 
ples  to  the  flock. 

It  is  the  advice  of  the  General  Con- 
ference, that  all  districts,  stations,  cir- 
cuits, and  missions,  cheerfully  receive 
the  preachers  appointed  by  the  station- 
ing committee  of  the  respective  annual 
conferences. 

SECTION   IV. 

CLASSES. 

1.  A  class  shall  consist  of  three  oi 
more  members,  who  shall  annually 
elect  one  member  from  their  own  or 
some  other  class,  who  shall  be  called 
their  leader. 

2.  Classes  shall  be  divided,  or  new 
ones  formed,  by  a  committee,  consisting 
of  the  preacher  in  charge,  and  one  or 
more  brethren,  elected  by  the  Church 


DISCIPLINE.  29 

or  class  at  any  place  where  it  may  be 
deemed  necelsary. 

3.  In  case  it  becomes  impracticable 
to  keep  up  an  organization  by  the 
election  of  class  officers,  the  members 
at  such  place  shall  be  required  to  join 
the  nearest  class  ;  and  an}'  one  failing 
to  do  so  may  be  dropped. 

Ques.  What  is  the  duty  of  a  leader? 

Ans.  1.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  meet 
his  class,  in  class  or  prayer-meeting,  at 
least  once  a  week,  to  speak  to  them 
concerning  the  spiritual  welfare  of  their 
souls,  and  exhort  them  to  unity  and 
love.  He  shall  extend  the  freedom  of 
our  prayer  and  class-meetings  to  all 
sincere  and  well-disposed  persons  who 
may  desire  to  attend  them.  And  it 
shall  be  his  duty  to  visit  any  member 
or  members  of  his  class  who  may  absent 
themselves  from  our  regular  social 
meetings. 

Any  class-leader  failing  to  discharge 


30  UNITED    BiiETHREN 

these  duties  may,  on  complaint,  be  re- 
moved by  the  quarterly  conference. 

2.  Every  class  shall  annually  elect 
(or,  if  the  class  prefer  it,  the  preacher 
may  appoint)  one  who  shall  be  called 
class-steward. 

Ques.  What  is  the  duty  of  a  steward  ? 

An&.  1.  He  shall  collect  quarterly 
contributions,  or  oftener  than  quarterly, 
if  needed,  for  the  support  of  the  travel 
ing  preachers.  He  shall  keep  an  ac- 
curate account  of  the  amount  paid  by 
each  member  of  the  class,'  and  report 
the  same  to  each  quarterly  conference 
or  official  meeting. 

2.  For  the  faithful  discharge  of  his 
duties  as  steward  of  his  class,  he  shall 
be  accountable  to  the  quarterly  con- 
ference, which  shall  have  power  to  dis- 
miss him  for  official  delinquency. 

3.  It  shall  also  be  his  duty  to  pro- 
vide the  elements  for  Sacrament. 


DISCIPLINE.  31 

SECTION   V. 

EXHORTERS. 

Ques.  How  are  exhorters  received  ? 

Ans.  Any  person  wishina;  to  obtain 
license  to  exhort  or  preach  must  obtain 
from  the  class  of  which  he  is  a  member, 
by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  mem- 
bers, a  recommendation  in  writing, 
signed  by  the  leader,  or  preacher  in 
charge,  to  the  quarterly  conference  of 
the  circuit,  station,  or  mission  to  which 
he  belongs. 

Ques.  What  are  the  duties  of  exhort- 
ers? 

Ans.  To  make  appointments  wher- 
ever acceptable  to  the  people ;  read 
portions  of  sacred  Scripture,  exhordng 
therefrom  ;  exhorting  saints,  that  they 
with  purpose  of  heart  should  cleave  to 
the  Lord,  and  sinners  to  flee  from 
the  wrath  to  come  ;  and  this  they  shall 
do  as  often  as  practicable 


82  UNITED  BRETHREN 

SECTION   VI. 

EECEPTION  OF  PKEACHERS. 

Ques.  How  are  preachers  received  ? 

Ans.  Every  person  proposed  as  a 
preacher  shall  be  examined  by  the 
conference,  or  a  select  committee ;  and 
the  following  questions  shall  be  put  to 
him,  viz : 

1.  Have  you  known  God  in  Christ 
Jesus  to  be  a  sin-pardoning  God? 

2.  Have  you  now  peace  with  God; 
and  is  the  love  of  God  shed  abroad  in 
your  heart  by  the  Holy  Spirit? 

3.  Do  you  believe  the  Bible  to  be 
the  word  of  God,  and  that  therein  is 
contained  the  only  true  way  to  our 
salvation  ? 

4.  What  foundation  have  you  for 
that  belief? 

5.  Do  you  follow  after  holiness  ? 

6.  What  is  your  motive  for  desiring 
permission  to  preach  the  Gospel  ? 


DISCIPLINE.  33 

7.  Do  you  believe  that  man,  abstract 
of  the  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ, 
is  fallen  from  original  righteousness, 
and  is  not  only  entirely  destitute  of 
holiness,  but  is  inclined  to  evil,  and 
only  evil,  and  that  continually;  and 
that  except  -i  man  be  born  again  he 
can  not  see  the  kingdom  of  God? 

8.  What  is  your  knowledge  of  re- 
demption, of  faith,  of  repentance,  jus- 
tification, and  sanctification  ? 

9.  Does  your  ov/n  salvation,  and  the 
salvation  of  your  fellow  mortals,  lie 
nearer  to  your  heart  than  all  other 
things  in  the  world? 

10.  Will  you  subject  yourself  to  the 
counsel  of  your  brethren  ? 

11.  Are  you  satisfied  with  our 
Church  government? 

12.  Are  you  willing,  as  much  as  is  in 
your  power,  to  assist  in  upholding  the 
itinerant  plan  ? 

.None  can  be  admitted  without  hav- 
3 


34  UNITED    BRETHREN 

ing  a  recommendation  from  the  quar- 
terly conference,  and  then  only  to  be 
received  on  probation  ;  but  if  confer- 
ence should,  on  examination,  find  that 
his  abilities  are  insufficient  to  preach 
the  Gospel,  it  may  refer  him  back  to 
the  quarterly  conference,  for  further 
instruction. 

When  a  preacher  or  elder  is  expelled 
from  one  annual  conference,  he  shall 
not  be  received  into  another,  without 
the  consent  of  the  conference  from 
which  he  was  expelled. 

A  preacher  removing  from  one  con- 
ference to  another  shall,  when  he  ap- 
plies to  another  for  admission,  produce 
a  transfer  from  the  conference  to  which 
he  formerly  belonged,  signed  by  the 
presiding  officer,  or  published  in  the 
minutes  of  the  conference  from  which 
he  is  transferred. 

A  preacher  or  elder  who  receives  a 
transfer    is   required   to   present  said 


DISCIPLINE.  35 

transfer  to  another  conference,  or  re- 
turn it  to  the  conference  by  which  it 
was  issued,  within  eighteen  months 
after  its  date.  Otherwise  the  transfer 
shall  be  null  and  void,  and  the  name 
of  the  preacher  shall  be  published  as 
no  longer  connected  with  the  Church 
as  a  minister. 

Provided^  preachers  taking  transfers 
to  the  Pacific  coast  shall  be  allowed  two 
years  in  which  to  present  their  trans- 
fers. 

.  A  preacher  or  elder  receiving  a 
transfer,  shall  be  a  member  of  the 
Quarterly  Conference,  in  whose  bounds 
he  may  reside,  and  be  accountable  also, 
;,i  to  the  Annual  Conference  granting  said 
transfer  for  his  moral  and  official  con- 
duct. 

SECTION   VII. 

PREACHERS'  DUTIES. 

Ques.  What  are  the  duties  of  preach- 
ers? 


36  UNITED    BRETHREN 

Ans.  To  preach  Christ  crucified, 
whenever  they  can  get  hearers ;  to  form 
classes;  to  converse  with  the  members 
on  the  spiritual  condition  of  their  souls ; 
to  administer  relief,  to  strengthen  and 
direct  those  that  are  afflicted  and  labor 
under  temptations  ;  to  animate  the  in- 
dolent ;  to  endeavor  as  much  as  possi- 
ble to  edify  and  instruct  all  in  faith,  in 
grace,  and  in  the  knowledge  of  Jesus 
Christ ;  to  visit  the  sick  on  all  occa- 
sions ;  to  strive  to  enforce  and  confirm 
the  doctrine  they  deliver  by  a  well- 
ordered  and  exemplary  life. 

Ques.  What  are  the  directions  given 
to  our  preachers  ? 

Ans.  1.  Be  diligent.  Never  trifle 
away  your  time.  Always  be  serious. 
Let  your  motto  be,  "  Holiness  unto 
THE  Lord  !"  Avoid  all  lightness  and 
jesting  ;  converse  sparingly  ;  conduct 
yourself  prudently  with  women ;  and 
demean   yourself  in  all  respects  as  a 


DISCIl'LINE.  37 

true  Christian.  Be  at  all  times  averse 
to  crediting  evil  reports;  believe  evil 
of  no  one  without  good  evidence.  Put 
the  best  construction  on  every  thing. 

2.  Speak  evil  of  no  one.  What- 
ever may  be  your  thoughts,  keep  them 
within  your  own  breast  until  you  can 
tell  the  person  concerned  what  you 
think  wrong  in  his  conduct. 

3.  Let  your  business  be  to  save  as 
many  souls  as  possible.  To  this  em- 
ployment give  yourself  up  wholly. 
Visit  those  who  need  it;  and  act  in 
all  things,  not  according  to  your  own 
wills,  but  as  sons  in  the  Gospel ;  for  as 
such  it  becomes  your  duty  to  employ 
your  time  in  the  manner  prescribed, 
in  preaching,  and  visiting  from  house 
to  house;  in  instruction  and.  prayer, 
and  in  meditating  on  the  word  of  God, 
With  these  be  occupied  until  our 
Lord  Cometh. 

No   preacher  shall  arbitrarily  form 


38  UNITED  BRETHREN. 

a  mission  or  circuit  within  the  em- 
brace of  any  circuit  or  presiding  eld- 
er's district. 

SECTION  VIII. 

GENEEAL  CONFERENCE. 

Ques.  1.  Who  are  the  members  of 
the  General  Conference?  (/S'ee  Con- 
stitution.^ 

Ques.  2.  What  shall  be  the  number 
of  delegates  to  the  General  Confer- 
ence? 

Ans.  Three  from  each  annual  con- 
ference district. 

Ques.  3.  How  are  they  to  be  elect- 
ed? 

Ans.  1.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each 
annual  conference  to  appoint  a  com- 
mittee of  three  to  receive  and  count 
the  votes,  and  immediately  apprise 
those  who  may  have  been  elected ; 
also  to  furnish  each  preacher  in  charge 


DISCIPLINE.  39 

with  a  list  of  the  names  of  all  the  eld- 
ers eligible. 

2.  The  preacher  in  charge  shall  fur- 
nish each  class-leader  or  steward  in 
his  charge  with  a  copy  of  the  above- 
named  list,  at  least  ten  months  before 
the  sitting  of  General  Conference,  and 
the  election  shall  be  held  invariably 
within  the  month  of  November,  next 
preceding  the  sitting  of  the  said  con- 
ference. 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  class- 
leader  or  steward  to  appoint  a  meeting 
of  the  members  of  his  class,  for  the 
purpose  of  electing,  by  ballot  or  other- 
wise, their  delegates  to  represent  them 
in  General  Conference.  Should  any  be 
incapacitated,  by  affliction  or  age,  to 
attend  such  meetings,  they  may  send 
their  ballots,  containing  the  names  of 
the  candidates  of  their  choice,  and 
their  own  names  signed  on  the  back 
of  their  ballots. 


40  UNITED   BRETHREN 

4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each 
class -leader  or  steward  to  sign,  inclose, 
and  seal  each  'bill  of  election,  and 
keep  a  correct  copy  of  the  same,  stat- 
ing what  class  and  circuit,  and  im- 
mediately transmit  it  (prepaid)  to  the 
committee  appointed  by  the  annual 
conference. 

5.  Said  committee  shall  make  out  a 
list  of  all  the  persons  voted  for,  and 
of  the  number  of  votes  for  each.  And 
should  any  two  or  more  of  the  candi- 
dates have  an  equal  number  of  votes, 
the  committee  shall  determine,  by  lot,, 
which  of  them  is  elected.  They  shall 
also  forward,  by  the  first  of  February, 
the  names  of  those  elected,  to  the  Con- 
ference Printing  Establishment  for  pub- 
lication ;  and  if  one  or  more  of  those 
elected  should  be  prevented,  by  death, 
sickness,  or  otherwise,  from  attending, 
it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  tellers  to 
notify  the  next   highest  on  the  bill  to 


DISCIPLINE.  41 

take  his  place;  and  so  descend,  if  need 
be,  to  the  last  candidate.  All  bills 
of  election  received  by  the  tellers  after 
the  first  of  February  shall  not  be 
'.ounted. 

Ques.  4.  How  shall  the  expenses 
»f  the  delegates  to  the  General  Confer- 
ence be  defrayed? 

Ans.  The  annual  conference  next 
:>receding  the  election  of  delegates  to 
ihe  General  Conference  shall  ascertain 
*.he  amount  of  money  that  will  be  nec- 
'^ssary  to  defray  the  expenses  of  its 
delegates  to  General  Conference,  and 
apportion  the  same  among  its  different 
^elds  of  labor;  and  the  preacher  in 
charge  shall  collect  and  forward  such 
imount  to  the  presiding  elder  of  his 
district,  who  shall  transmit  such 
amount  to  the  tellers  by  the  first  of 
February  preceding  the  General  Con- 
ference. Should  any  preacher  neg- 
lect his  duty,  he  shall  be  accountable 


42  UNITED    BRETHREN 

therefor  to  the  next  annual  confer- 
ence. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  General 
Conference  to  examine  the  administra- 
tion of  each  annual  conference,  whether 
it  has  strictly  observed  the  rules  and 
preserved  the  moral  and  doctrinal 
principles  of  the  discipline  in  all  its 
transactions. 

In  the  election  of  all  officers  r<f  the 
General  Conference,  a  majority  of  all 
the  votes  shall  be  necessary  to  a  choice 


SECTION  IX. 
ANNUAL  CONFERENCE. 

Qnes.  1.  Who  are  the  members  of 
this  conference? 

Ans.  All  the  elders  and  licentiate 
preachers  who  have  been  duly  re- 
ceived by  the  conference. 

Ques.    2.    In   what  manner  are   the 


DISCIPLINE.  43 

transactions  of  a  conference  to  be  con- 
ducted? 

Ans.  1.  A  portion  of  Scripture  shall 
be  read;  also,  singing  and  prayer  each 
day,  at  the  opening  and  at  the  closing 
of  conference. 

2.  The  conference  shall  elect  two 
secretaries — one  German  and  one  Eng- 
lish, wherever  it  may  be  necessary. 
one  of  whom  shall  immediately,  on  the 
adjournment  of  the  Annual  Conference, 
transmit  to  the  publishing  agent  at 
Dayton,  Ohio,  a  true  transcript  of  the 
footings  of  the  Conference  Chart.  If 
no  bishop  should  be  present,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  Annual  Conference 
to  elect  a  bishop  pro  tern.,  whose  offi- 
cial acts  shall  be  valid. 

3.  The  preachers  shall  be  examined 
respecting  their  deportment  toward 
their  fellow-beings,  wnether  their  con- 
duct in  life  be  blameless,  and  whether 
they  employ  as   much  time  as  practi- 


44  UNITED    BllETlillKN 

cable  to  promote  the  kingdom  of  God  ; 
(according  to  Titus,  1st  cliap.,  7tli  to 
9th  verse,  and  2d  Tim,,  2d  chap.,  15th 
verse;)  and  if  found  delinquent,  shall 
be  admonished  or  advised  as  the  case 
may  require.  But  should  all  admoni- 
tion or  advice  fail,  then  the  name  of 
the  delinquent  person  shall  be  erased 
from  the  minutes  of  the  conference. 

4.  Should  any  member  of  the  an- 
nual conference  absent  himself  from 
the  session  of  conference  three  years 
in  succession,  without  giving  a  satis- 
factory reason  for  so  doing,  his  name 
may  be  erased  from  the  minutes  of  the 
conference. 

5.  No  preacher  shall  be  permitted 
to  electioneer  favorably  to  his  own 
election  to  any  office  or  delegation  in 
the  Church ;  and  should  any  one  be 
found  doing  so,  he  shall  be  account- 
able to  the  next  annual  conference  of 
which   he  is  a    member,   to   be    dealt 


DlSCIPLiNK.  45 

with    according    to    the    judgment   of 
said  conference. 

The  following  questions  shall  also 
be  asked: 

1.  Have  any  of  the  preachers  died 
during  the  last  year? 

2.  Who  are  candidates  for  the  min- 
istry? 

3.  Are  any  to  be  ordained  to  the 
office  of  elder? 

4.  What  has  been  collected  for  con- 
tingent- expenses  and  the  salary  of 
traveling  preachers? 

5.  What  has  been  done  for  missions? 

6.  What  has  been  done  for  Sabbath- 
schools? 

7.  Has  reckoning  been  made  with 
the  traveling  preachers  ? 

8.  Who  are  the  presiding  elders? 

9.  Where  are  the  preachers  stationed 
this  year? 

10.  Where  shall  our  next  confer- 
ence be  held? 


46  UNITED    EilETHliExN 

11.  Is  there  any  thing  else  to  be 
done? 

12.  Is  all  that  has  been  done  en- 
tered upon  record  ? 

SECTION    X. 

ORGANIZATION   OF   THE    ITINERANCY 
AND  THE    MANNER  OF   SUS- 
TAINING IT. 

Ques.  Who  are  the  itinerants  ? 

Arts.  1.  All  who  propose  themselves 
without  reserve,  after  having  traveled 
two  years  under  the  direction  of  the 
stationing  committee  or  presiding  elder, 
and  have  been  received,  by  a  vote  of 
two-thirds  of  the  members  of  confer- 
ence, shall  be  considered  itinerants 
from  year  to  year,  and  may  be  em- 
ployed under  the  direction  of  the  gen- 
eral or  annual  conferences. 

2.  The  bishop  and  presiding  elders 


DISCIPLINE.  47 

of  the  past  and  present  years,  together 
with  an  equal  number  of  local  elders 
or  preachers,  elected  by  the  annual 
conference,  shall  constitute  a  station- 
ing committee,  whose  duty  it  shall  be 
to  supply  all  the  circuits,  stations,  and 
missions,  as  far  as  practicable,  from 
the  above  list : 

Provided^  however,  that  if  any  of 
the  preachers  thus  stationed,  or  any 
who  may  not  receive  an  appointment, 
are  dissatisfied,  they  shall  have  a  right 
to  appeal  to  the  annual  conference,  if 
two-thirds  grant  the  appeal,*  the  de- 
cision of  which  shall  be  final ;  and  the 
report  of  said  stationing  committee 
shall  be  read  at  least  six  hours  before 
the  adjournment  of  conference. 

*'NoTE. — In  case  of  an  appeal  from  the 
decision  of  the  stationing  committee,  no 
preacher  stationed  by  said  committee  shall 
be  changed,  without  his  consent,  to  accom- 
modate the  preacher  asking  such  appeal. 


18  UNITED    BRETHREN 

3.  Should  there  not  be  enough  itin- 
erants to  fill  all  the  circuits,  stations, 
and  missions,  such  vacancies  shall  be 
supplied  by  the  stationing  committee 
or  presiding  elders. 

Ques.  2.  What  shall  be  done  to 
regulate  the  annual  conferences  in  the 
division  of  circuits  or  stations? 

Ans.  A  circuit  or  station  shall  not 
consist  of  any  specific  number  of  mem- 
bers or  appointments;  but  when  the 
annual  conference  thinks  it  able  to 
support  a  minister,  it  may  be  recog- 
nized as  such. 

If  any  who  are  received,  as  above 
stated,  shall  cease  to  travel  without 
giving  satisfaction  to  the  conference 
of  which  he  is  a  member,  he  shall  not 
be  entitled  to  any  support  from  the 
funds  belonging  to  said  conference. 
And,  furthermore,  he  shall  not  re- 
enter the  itinerancy  without  the  con- 
sent    of    at    least    two-tliivds    of    the 


Discii  Liisj<;.  49 

conference.  Yet  supormiraerary  nnd 
superannuated  relations  shall  be  duly 
recognized  as  in  accordance  with  this 
section,  and  may  be  secured  to  any 
brother  having  just  claims  thereto,  by 
a  vote  of  conference.  Should  a  trav- 
eling preacher  or  elder  desire  to  leave 
the  work  assigned  him,  he  must  first 
acquaint  the  presiding  elder  of  his  in- 
tention, by  writing;  and  should  any 
one  leave  or  neglect  his  station,  except 
it  be  through  sickness  or  other  un- 
avoidable circumstances,  he  shall  be 
accountable  to  the  next  annual  confer- 
ence. 

SECTION    XI. 

ITINEEANT  PREACHERS'  DUTIES. 

Qiies.  What  are  the  duties  of  a  c' 
cuit  preacher? 

Ans.  1.  To  take  the  circuit  aswsifie^l 
him  willingly. 

2.  To  attend    the    appointment    on 


50  UNITED    BRETHREN 

his   circuit    regularly,  preach    to     the 
people,  and  hold  society  meetiDgs. 

3.  The  preacher  in  charge  is  to  see 
that  there  are  suitable  persons  elected 
in  all  the  classes  as  leaders  and  stew- 
ards, at  the  close  of  the  conference 
year. 

4.  To  read  the  following  four  sec- 
tions of  our  discipline  every  six  months, 
in  each  regular  congregation,  viz. :  The 
Confession  of  Faith,  Reception  and 
Duties  of  Members ;  Ardent  Spirits  and 
Secret  Societies. 

5.  To  sit  as  president  on  the  trial 
of  members,  and  see  that  a  correct  ac- 
count of  the  same  is  kept. 

6.  To  render  a  strict  account  of  the 
condition  of  his  circuit  to  each  quar- 
terly conference,  where  he  is  to  be 
held  accountable  for  the  neglect  of 
anj  regular  appointment  on  his  cir- 
cuit. 

7.\It  shall  be  his  duty  to  use  every 


DISCIPLINE.  51 

laudable  effort  to  circulate  our  books 
and  Cburch  periodicals,  and  to  use 
due  diligence  to  advance  the  interests 
of  the  Conference  Printing  Establish- 
ment. 

8.  It  shall  be  his  duty  to  keep  a 
list  of  the  names  of  all  the  subscribers 
to  our  Church  periodicals,  and  the 
time  of  subscribing,  at  the  different 
appointments  on  his  circuit,  and  hand 
it  over  to  his  successor  at  the  annual 
conference,  with  the  list  of  the  appoint- 
ments. He  shall  also  report  the  num- 
ber of  subscribers  to  our  periodicals  on 
his  field  of  labor  at  each  Quarterly 
Conference;  and  be  examined  by  the 
presiding  elder  and  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence as  to  whether  he  performs  his 
duty  in  circulating  the  periodicals  of 
the  Church  among  the  people  of  his 
charge. 

9.  No  preacher  shall  dismiss  any 
appointment  from  his  circuit,  without 


52  UNITED    BRETHREN 

the  consent  of  Quarterly  Conference. 

10.  He  shall  secure  a  suitable  book 
for  a  Church  record,  in  which  he  shall 
register  all  the  appointments  and  classes 
on  his  circuit,  station,  or  mission,  in 
their  regular  order,  with  the  name  of 
each  member  attached  to  his  or  her 
class.  He  shall  also  make  a  record  of 
all  the  baptisms,  marriages,  deaths,  and 
proceedings  of  Church  trials,  with 
names  of  all  the  parties  in  each  case. 
He  shall  report  this  record  with  the 
proceedings  therein  to  the  last  Quar- 
terly Conference  of  each  year  for 
approval  or  improvement.  This  book 
shall  be  the  property  of  the  Quarterly 
Conference,  and  shall  be  in  addition  to 
the  regular  class  books. 

11.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  preach- 
ers in  charge  of  circuits,  stations,  and 
missions,  to  collect  the  annual  amount 
apportioned  to  their  Gelds  of  labor  for 
the  support  of  the  bishops. 


DISCIPLINE.  53 

12.  He  shall  hold  a  general  mis- 
sionary meeting  at  some  convenient 
place  on  his  work.  He  shall  also 
preach  a  missionary  sermon,  and  ap- 
point a  soliciting  committee  at  every 
appointment,  whose  duty  it  shall  be, 
in  conjunction  with  himself,  to  canvass 
the  class  and  community,  personally, 
to  solicit  funds  for  the  missionary  so- 
ciety. He  shall  also  keep  a  list  of  the 
names  of  contributors,  so  far  as  possible, 
and  report  the  same  to  Conference  for 
publication  with  the  minutes,  or  in  the 
annual  report  of  the  Board  of  Missions, 
as  the  Conference  may  direct;  he  shall 
also  establish  monthly  mis^sionary 
prayer  meetings  wherever  practical  in 
the  Societies  of  his  charge.  He  shall 
be  held  to  a  strict  account  for  the  faith- 
ful performance  of  these  duties. 

13.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  sta- 
tioned preachers  to  visit  every  family 
under  their  care,  at  least  once  every 
quarter,  and  pay  strict  attention  to  the 


64  UNITED    BRETHREN 

young  members  of  their  charge. 

14.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  circuit 
preachers  to  visit  as  much  as  possible. 

15.  It  shall  he  the  •  duty  of  all 
preachers,  whether  local  or  itinerant, 
to  make  use  of  every  laudable  effort  to 
enlarge  the  borders  of  our  Zion,  in 
spreading  scriptural  holiness,  and  re- 
port to  their  respective  annual  confer- 
.3nce  the  number  of  new  appointments 
obtained. 

SECTION    XII. 
BISHOPS— ELECTION  AND  DUTIES. 

Ques.  How  are  the  bishops  to  be 
elected  ? 

Ans.  The  General  Conference  shall 
elect  them,  for  the  term  of  four  years, 
by  a  majority  of  the  whole  number  of 
votes,  to  be,  at  the  option  of  con- 
ference, re-elected.     The  bishops  must 


DISCIPLINE.  55 

be  capable  of  attending  the  conferences 
appbinted  them,  otherwise  they  can 
not  be  elected. 

Ques.  How   shall    the    bishops' 

fields  of  labor  be  assigned  them? 

Ans.  By  the  General  Conference; 
and  in  the  fields  thus  assigned  them 
they  shall  devote  their  whole  time  :  but 
no  bishop  shall  be  stationed  more  than 
four  consecutive  years  on  the  same  dis- 
trict. 

Provided^  however,  that  they  shall 
have  the  privilege  of  making  such  tem- 
porary interchanges  as  they  may  deem 
proper. 

Ques.  How  shall  their  support  be 
secured? 

Ans.  1.  Each  annual  conference  shall 
apportion  its  respective  part  of  the 
salary  of  its  bishop,  annually,  to  the 
several  fields  of  labor  in  its  bounds, 
according  to  the  ability  thereof. 

2.    The    bishops   shall  publish   an- 


56  UNITED    BRETHREN 

nually,  in  the  columns  of  the  Religious 
Telescope,  reports  of  their  respective 
districts,  and  also  the  amount  of  salary 
received  from  the  several  annual  con- 
ferences in  their  charge. 

Q'ues.  What  are  the  duties  of  bish- 
ops? 

Ans.  1.  To  preside  over  the  annual 
and  General  Conferences. 

2.  In  conjunction  with  the  presiding 
elders  of  the  past  and  present  year, 
together  with  an  equal  number  of  local 
elders  or  preachers,  they  may  fix  the  ap- 
pointments of  the  traveling  preachers 
for  the  several  circuits,  stations,  and 
missions :  Provided,  that  they  do  not 
allow  any  itinerant  preacher  to  re- 
main on  the  same  station  or  circuit 
more  than  three  consecutive  years,  un- 

*  less  particular  circumstances  require  it, 
and  then  only  with  consent  of  the  con- 
ference. 

3.  The  bishop,  in   conjunction  with 


DISCIPLINE.  57 

two  elders  from  each  presiding  elder 
district,  shall  appoint  the  presiding  el- 
ders to  their  respective  districts. 

4.  It  shall  be  their  duty  to  perform 
the  rite  of  ordination  at  the  annual 
conferences,  and  at  such  other  times 
and'  places  as  circumstances  may  re- 
quire it,  and  then  only  upon  such  per- 
sons as  have  passed  the  usual  examina- 
tion required  of  candidates  for  ordina- 
tion, by  a  committee  of  three  elders 
chosen  for  that  purpose  by  one  of  the 
bishops. 

5.  The  bishops  shall  hold  annual 
meetings,  at  which  they  shall  determ- 
ine the  time  of  holding  the  annual 
conferences,  decide  questions  of  disci- 
pline, adopt  measures  to  secure  uni- 
formity in  their  administration  ;  and, 
when  circumstances  demand  it,  ap- 
point fast  and  thanksgiving  seasons, 
and  counsel  upon  the  general  interests 
of  the  Church. 


58  UNITED    BRETHREN 

6.  In  conjunction  with  the  board 
of  missions,  the  bishops  shall  have 
power  to  organize  mission  conferences. 

7.  The  bishops  shall  devote  as  much 
of  their  time  as  possibly,  consistent 
with  their  other  duties,  to  visiting  our 
missions  in  the  South  and  elsewhere, 
and  exploring  new  fields. 

8.  When  a  bishop  fails  to  perform  his 
duty,  unless  through  unavoidable  cir- 
cumstances, he  can  not  be  suffered  to 
retain  his  office. 

9.  If  our  Church  should  at  any 
time  be  destitute  of  a  bishop,  a  bishop 

^  pro  iem.  shall  be  elected  from  among 
the  elders  at  each  annual  conference. 
Each  bishop  pro  tern,  shall  attend  the 
next  succeeding  conference,  in  con- 
junction with  the  bishop  pro  tern. 
there  elected,  that  a  regular  corre- 
spondence be  maintained  until  the  en- 
suing General  Conference. 

10.  It    shall   be    the    duty   of  the 


DISCIPLINE,  59 

bishops  to  see  that  a  suitable  sermon 
be  delivered  to  the  preachers  present 
at  each  annual  conference. 


SECTION  XIII.  > 

ELECTION  OF  ELDERS 

Ques.  How  is  an  elder  constituted? 

Ans.  After  a  probation  of  three 
years,  a  preacher  may  be  presented  to 
the  annual  conference  for  considera- 
tion ;  whereupon  the  bishop  shall  pro- 
pose to  conference  the  following  ques- 
tions : 

Ques.  1.  Is  he  blameless  touching 
the  marriage  state  ? 

2.  Is  his  deportment  in  the  social 
circle  marked  with  watchful  sobriety  ? 

3.  Is  he  hospitable  toward  the 
afflicted  and  needy? 

4.  Is  he  faithful  in  the  public  min- 
istration of  God's   word,  and  diligent 


60  UNITED    BRETHREN 

in  reading  and  study? 

5.  Is  his  household  subject  to  rules 
of  piety? 

Should  the  above  questions  be  an- 
swered in  the  affirmative,  a  committee 
of  three  or  five  elders  shall  be  ap- 
pointed, before  whom  the  candidate 
shall  appear,  and  answer  to  the  follow- 
ing questions,  viz. : 

Qnes.  1.  Upon  what  foundation  do 
you  believe  the  Bible  to  be  the  word 
of  God? 

2.  How  do  you  prove  the  fall  of 
man  by  transgression  ? 

3.  How  do  you  prove  the  redemp- 
tion of  man  by  Jesus  Christ? 

4.  Do  you  believ-e  in  the  Godhead 
of  Jesus  Christ  ? 

5.  What  foundation  have  you  for 
such  a  belief? 

6.  Do  you  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost 
as  presented  in  our  Confession  of 
Faith  ? 


DISCIPLINE.  61 

7.  Upon  what  evidence  do  you  be- 
lieve this? 

8.  Do  you  believe  in  future,  ever- 
lasting punishment? 

It  shall  be  the  privilege  of  the  com- 
mittee, in  the  close,  to  propose  any 
question  touching  the  answers  given, 
wherein  their  understanding  may  not 
have  b'ien  distinct.  It  shall  also  be 
their  duty  to  make  out,  sign,  and  de- 
liver to  conference  a  report  of  each 
case  which  may  have  been  before  them. 
Whereupon,  by  a  majority  of  the  votes 
of  the  elders  of  conference,  said  candi- 
dates may  be  elected  to  ordination. 
All  ordained  elders  of  other  denomina- 
tions, who  may  join  our  Church  as 
such,  must  pass  the  above  examina- 
tion ;  but  they  may  be  exempt  from 
the  laying  on  of  hands.  Yet,  circum- 
stances demanding  it,  a  licentiate  may 
be  presented  to  conference  for  ordina- 
tion at  any  time  prior  to  a  probation 


62  UNITED    BRETHREN 

of  three  years,  provided  two-tliirds  of 
the  elders  present  vote  for  the  same. 


SECTION    XIV. 

ORDINATIOK  OF  ELDEES. 

I.  On  the  day  appointed  there  shall 
be  a  suitable  sermon  delivered. 

II.  After  their  names  have  been 
read  aloud,  the  bishop  or  elder  shall 
read  the  following  articles  to  all  vcHio 
may  be  chosen  for  ordination  : 

"An  elder  must  be  blameless  as  the 
steward  of  God,  not  self-willed,  not 
soon  angry,  not  given  to  wine ;  no 
striker,  not  given  to  filthy  lucre ;  but 
a  lover  of  hospitality,  a  lover  of  good 
men;  sober,  just,  holy,  temperate  ;  hold- 
ing fast  the  faithful  word  as  he  hath 
been  taught,  that  he  may  be  able,  by 
sound  doctrine,  both  to  exhort  and 
convince  the  gainsayers."     Titus  i,  7-9. 


DISCIPLINE.  63 

Ques.  Do  you  trust  that  you  are  in- 
wardly moved  by  the  Holy  Ghost  to 
take  upon  you  the  ojffice  of  the  min- 
istry, to  serve  God  in  the  Church  of 
Christ  to  the  honor  and  glory  of  his 
holy  name  ?    If  so,  answer,  I  trust  I  am. 

Ques.  Do  you  believe  the  Holy 
Scriptures,  Old  and  New  Testament? 
If  so,  answer,  I  do  believe  them. 

Ques.  Will  you  apply  due  diligence 
to  frame  and  fashion  your  life  accord- 
ing, to  the  doctrines  of  Christ;  and  to 
make  yourself,  as  much  as  in  you 
lieth,  a  wholesome  example  of  the 
flock  of  Christ?  If  so,  answer,  I  will, 
the  Lord  being  my  helper. 

Ques.  Will  you  obey  them  to  whom 
the  charge  and  government  over  you 
is  committed,  and  follow  their  godly 
admonitions  with  a  willing  and  ready 
mind?  If  so,  answer,  I  will  endeavor, 
through  the  grace  of  God,  to  do  so. 

Then  prayer  is  to  be  offered. 


64  UNITED    BRETHREN 

After  prayer,  the  bishop  and  elders 
shall  lay  their  hands  upon  the  head 
of  every  one  of  them,  and  say : 

"  Take  thou  authority  to  execute  the 
office  of  an  elder  in  the  Church  of 
God,  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and 
of  the  Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Amen." 

[Hereupon  the  bishop  or  elder  shall 
deliver  to  every  one  of  them  the  Holy 
Bible,  saying  :] 

"  Take  thou  authority  to  preach  the 
Word  of  God,  and  administer  the  or- 
dinances in  the  Church  of  Christ." 

[Then  the  bishop  or  elder  shall 
pray.  And  after  prayer  he  shall  read 
from  Luke  xii,  35-38]:  "Let  your 
loins  be  girded  about,  and  your  lights 
burning,  and  ye  yourselves  like  unto 
men  that  wait  for  their  Lord,  when  he 
shall  return  from  the  wedding ;  that, 
when  he  cometh  and  kuocketh,  they 
may     open     unto      liim     immediately. 


DISCIPLINE.  65 

Blessed  are  those  servants  whom  the 
Lord  when  he  cometh  shall  find  watch- 
ing. Verily  I  say  unto  you,  that  he 
shall  gird  himself,  and  make  them  sit 
down  to  meat,  and  will  come  forth  and 
serve  them.  And  if  he  shall  come  in 
the  second  watch,  or  come  in  the  third 
watch,  and  find  them  so,  blessed  are 
those  servants."  [After  this  the  fol- 
lowing benediction  is  to  be  pro- 
nounced :] 

The  peace  of  God  keep  your  hearts 
nnd  minds  in  tlie  knovjledga  of  Jesuit 
Christ  our  Lord,     Amen. 


bECTION    XV. 

ELDERS'  DUTIES. 

It  is  the  duty  of  an  elder  to  ju^each 
as  often  as  he  can  ;  to  baptize,  to  ad- 
minister the  Lord's  Supper,  solemnize 

murriages,  to   perform  all  partb  of  di- 


66  UNITED    BRETHREN 

vine  service,  to  be  an  example  to  the 
flock  of  Christ  by  imitating  his  moral 
example ;  and  in  a  very  special  man- 
ner it  shall  be  the  duty  of  an  elder  to 
cherish  and  encourage  young  minis- 
ters, and  always  to  be  looking  for  those 
whom  God  has  called  to  preach,  and 
advise  them  to  take  up  the  cross,  and 
begin  the  work  without  delay,  that  the 
labor  ot  this  Gospel  harvest  may  be 
faithfully  performed. 

SECTION    XVI. 
PRESIDING  ELDEES. 

Qnes.  3.  How  shall  the  presiding  eM- 
ers  be  elected  ? 

A71S.  The  annual  conference  shall 
elect  them  by  ballot.  A  majority  of 
the  whole  number  of  votes  shall  be 
necessary  to  a  choice. 

Ques.  4.  What  shall  be  done  for  the 
support  of  the  presiding  elders? 


DISCII'LINI!.  67 

Ans.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each 
annual  conference  to  make  such  regu- 
lations for  the  support  of  the  presiding 
elders  as  they  in  their  wisdom  may 
think  best  calculated  to  accomplish  the 
desired  end. 

Ques.  3.  How  shall  they  be  sta- 
tioned? 

Ans.  By  the  bishop  and  two  elders 
from  each  presiding  elder  district. 

Ques.  4.  What  are  the  duties  of  a 
presiding  elder? 

A71S.  1.  To  travel  through  the  dis- 
trict appointed  him,  and  to  preach  as 
often  as  is  practicable. 

2.  He  shall  appoint  the  quarterly 
and  camp-meetings,  and  attend  them. 
He  shall  hold  quarterly  conferences, 
and  administer  the  ordiiiaaccs  of  Grod's 
house.  He  shall  inquire  whether  the 
preachers  do  their  duty,  and  exhort 
them  to  maintain  discipline  and  order, 
love  and  seriousness  in  the  society. 


68  L'NITED    BRETHREN 

3.  He  may  also,  in  conjunction  with 
two  elders,  preachers,  exhorters,  or 
leaders,  [one  from  each  circuit,]  change 
the  preachers  in  his  district. 

4.  Should  any  district  happen  to  be 
without  a  presiding  elder,  information 
shall  be  immediately  given  to  a  bishop, 
who  shall  appoint  an  elder  to  preside 
in  said  district  until  the  ensuing  an- 
nual conference. 

^  SECTION   XVII. 

QUAKTEELY  CONFERENCE. 

Ques.  1.  Who  are  the  members  of 
the  quarterly  conference? 

Ans.  All  the  properly  recognized 
preachers,  exhorters,  leaders,  stewards, 
and  trustees  of  meeting  and  parsonage- 
houses,  and  superintendents  of  Sab- 
bath-schools, (when  said  trustees  and 
superintendents  are  members  of  the 
Church    of   the    United    Brethren    in 


DISCIPLINE.  69 

Christ,)  who  reside  witliin  the  bounds 
of  the  circuit,  station  or  mission. 

Ques.  2.  What  is  the  business  of 
the  Quarterly  Conference  ? 

Aois.  1.  In  the  absence  of  the  pre- 
siding elder,  the  Quarterly  Conference 
shall  elect  a  presiding  elder  pro  tern., 
whose  official  acts  shall  be  valid. 

2.  To  elect  a  secretary,  whose  duty 
it  shall  be  to  keep  a  correct  record  of 
all  their  proceedings  in  a  book  provided 
for  that  purpose,  in  which  the  names  of 
all  the  members  composing  the  said 
conference  shall  be  entered. 

3.  To  make  inquiry  into  the  moral 
deportment  and  official  character  of  all 
its  members. 

4.  To  receive  and  try  all  appeals, 
references,  and  complaints  that  may 
come  regularly  before  it ;  but  no  mem- 
ber of  quarterly  conference  can  be 
suspended  or  expelled  prior  to  a  com- 
mittee trial. 


70  UNITED    BRETHREN 

5.  To  grant  license  to  exhort  or 
preach  to  such  as  may  have  been  rec- 
ommended by  at  least  two-thirds  of 
the  class  (in  each  case  a  recommenda- 
tion must  be  obtained)  of  which  they 
may  be  members ;  provided,  however, 
that  none  shall  receive  license  who 
can  not  give  satisfactory  evidence  of 
their  call,  experience,  soundness  in  doc- 
trine, and  attachment  to  our  Church 
and  government. 

6.  To  make  settlement  with  the 
stewards  and  traveling  preachers. 

7.  To  enforce  discipline  in  all  the 
classes  under  its  jurisdiction ;  but  in 
no  case  to  disorganize  a  class  unless 
the  preliminary  steps  have  been  taken 
as  required  in  section  4   of  Discipline. 

8.  To  renew  the  license  of  exhort- 
crs  and  quarterly  conference  licensed 
preachers,  annually,  if  they  be  found 
worthy,  and  to  arrange  a  plan  for  the 
local  preachers  to  preach  regularly  at 


cij  6^ 


DISCIPLINE.  71 

stated  places,  as  tlie  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence may  direct. 

9.  After  such  licentiate  preachers 
have  stood  in  that  capacity  one  or 
more  years,  the  quarterly  conference 
may  recommend  them  to  the  annual 
conference. 

10.  All  pr£;achers  recommended  to 
the  annual  conference,  and  not  re- 
ceived, may  sustain  their  former  rela- 
tion. 

11.  The  quarterly  conference,  at  its 
last  session  in  each  year,  shall  appoint 
an  estimating  committee  for  the  ensu- 
ing year  ;  which  committee  shall  meet 
at  the  time  and  place  specified  by  the 
preacher  appointed  to  the  charge  for  the 
ensuing  year,  and  make  out  an  estimate 
of  the  regular  expenses  of  the  circuit, 
station,  or  mission,  and  apportion  the 
same  among  the  different  appointments 
according  to  their  several  abilities : 

Provided^  however,  that  it  shall  be 


72  UNITED    BRETHREN 

the  privilege  of  any  class  to  collect  the 
amount  apportioned  to  it  by  subscrip- 
tion or  otherwise. 

Qnes.  3.  How  are  preachers  from 
other  societies  received? 

Ans.  If  they  come  to  us  with  cer- 
tificates of  good  standing  in  the  so- 
ciety in  which  they  have  had  mem- 
bership, and  give  satisfaction  to  the 
quarterly  conference  on  examination 
on  the  doctrine,  discipline,  govern- 
ment, and  usages  of  our  Church,  then 
quarterly  conference  may  license  them, 
with  the  understanding  that  the  quar- 
terly conference  relation  continue  for 
at  least  one  year,  (provided,  that  an 
elder  coming  to  us  shall  be  allowed  to 
perform  the  functions  of  an  elder  dur- 
ing his  probation,)  after  which,  if 
their  conduct  and  doctrine  be  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  Gospel  of  Christ, 
they  may  be  received  into  the  annual 
conference  as  preachers,  or  elders,  as 
the  case  may  be. 


DISCIPLINE.  tli 

Ques.  4.  What  directions  are  neces- 
sary in  case  of  appeals  ? 

Ans.  Aj[\j  extorter  or  preacher,  dis- 
satisfied with  the  decision  of  a  quar- 
terly conference,  shall,  within  thirty 
days  after  the  quarterly  conference, 
notify  the  secretary,  in  writing,  of  his 
intention  to  appeal,  together  with  his 
reasons  for  so  doing ;  and  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  secretary  to  take  or 
send  a  certified  copy  of  the  proceed- 
ings, the  notification  and  reasons  as- 
signed, to  the  annual  conference.* 

Ques.  5.  Where  shall  our  next  quar- 
terly conference  be  held? 

Ques.  6.  Is  there  any  thing  more  to 
be  done  ? 

*NoTE. — In  all  cases  of  appeal,  whether 
to  the  quarterly,  annual,  or  General  Confer- 
ence, the  course  laid  down  in  this  section 
on  appeals  is  the  proper  course  to  be  pur- 
sued. 


74  UNITED    BRETHREN 

All  exhorters  and  quarterly  confer- 
ence preachers  are  required  to  join 
some  convenient  class  ;  and,  upon  neg- 
lect or  refusal  to  do  so,  shall  lose  their 
official  relation. 

It  shall  also  be  the  duty  of  the 
quarterly  conference  to  open  and  close 
with  prayer. 


SECTION  XVIII. 
OFFICIAL    MEETINGS    FOR   STATIONS. 

Ques.  1.  Who  are  the  members  of 
the  official  meeting? 

Ans.  1.  All  the  properly  recognized 
members  of  the  quarterly  conference. 

2.  The  preacher  in  charge  shall  be. 
the  president  of  the  meeting;  and  in 
his  absence  one  of  the  members  shall 
be  elected  president  pro  tern. 

Ques.  2.  What  is  the  business  of 
the  official  meeting  ? 


DISCIPLINE.  75 

Ans.  1.  The  president  shall  call 
the  meeting  to  order,  and  begin  and 
conclude  with  prayer. 

2.  To  elect  a  secretary,  who  shall 
make  a  record  of  all  the  proceedings 
of  the  meeting. 

3.  To  receive  a  statement  from  each 
class-leader  in  reference  to  the  pros- 
perity of  religion  in  his  class. 

4.  To  receive  all  moneys  from  the 
stewards  that  have  been  collected  since 
the  last  meeting  for  the  preacher  in 
charge,  or  preachers,  .and  pay  over  the 
same. 

5.  This  body  shall  meet  once  a 
month,  and  may  meet  oftener  if  cir- 
cumstances require. 

6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  official 
meeting  to  receive  all  reports  of  sub- 
scriptions, and  moneys  collected  and 
disbursed  for  the  interest  of  the  sta- 
tion; and  all  persons  intrusted  with 
subscriptions   or   moneys  shall   report 


76  UNITED    BRETHREN 

the  same  to  the  meeting  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible. 

7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  official 
meeting  to  submit  its  doings  to  the 
quarterly  conference  for  examination 
and  approval. 

SECTION  XIX. 

TRIAL  OF  MEMBEES. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  when 
members  trespass   against  each   other? 

Ans.  "  If  thy  brother  shall  trespass 
against  thee,  go  and  tell  him  his  fault 
between  him  and  thee  alone ;  if  he 
shall  hear  thee,  thou  hast  gained  thy 
brother;  but  if  he  will  not  hear  thee, 
then  take  with  thee  one  or  two  more; 
and  if  he  shall  neglect  to  hear  them, 
tell  it  unto  the  Church ;  but  if  he  neg- 
lect  to'  hear  the   Church,    let   him    be 

unto  thee  as  a  heathen  man  and  a  pub- 
lican," 


DISCIPLINE.  77 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  in  case 
of  members  accused  of  trespass  or  im- 
moral conduct? 

Ans.  The  class  shall  .appoint  one  or 
more  to  visit  the  accused  brother  or 
member,  and,  if  possible,  reclaim  him  ; 
but  if  unsuccessful,  he  or  she  shall  be 
tried  by  the  class  to  which  they  be- 
long, or  a  select  number  thereof,  cho- 
sen by  the  parties  concerned,  with  the 
preacher  in  charge  of  the  circuit  or 
station,  who  shall  be  chairman;  and 
if  found  guilty,  the  accused  shall  be 
expelled,  unless  satisfaction  be  given 
by  an  expression  of  repentance  or 
otherwise.  Yet  cases  may  happen 
where  it  would  be  expedient  to  choose 
a  committee  from  any  other  class  or 
classes  than  the  one  to  which  the  pnr- 
ties  belong ;  also  nn  elder  may  be 
chosen  as  chairman,  should  the  preacher 
in  charge  deem  it  best  to  do  so.     But 


78  UNITED    BRETHREN 

should  any  member  be  dissatisfied 
with  the  decision,  an  appeal  may  be 
had  to  the  quarterly  conference,  by 
giving  notice  thereof  to  the  preacher 
in  charge.  In  such  case,  however,  the 
same  persons  shall  not  sit  in  }»dgment 
on  the  same  case.  In  cases  of  neg- 
lect of  duty  of  any  kind,  imprudent 
conduct,  indulging  sinful  tempers  or 
words,  or  disobedience  to  the  order 
and  discipline  of  the  Church  :  First, 
let  private  reproof  be  given  by  the 
preacher  or  leader;  and  if  there  be 
an  acknowledgment  of  the  fault  and 
proper  humiliation,  the  person  may  be 
borne  with.  On  a  second  ofiense,  the 
preacher  or  leader  shall  take  with  him 
one  or  two  faithful  members.  On  a 
third  offense,  let  the  case  be  brought 
before  the  Church  or  class,  or  a  select 
committee ;  and  if  there  be  no  satis- 
factory humiliation,  the  oifonder  shall 
be  expelled. 


DISCIPLINE.  79 

In  case  of  trial  under  this  clause, 
the  leader  shall  act  in  behalf  of  the 
Church;  or  if  the  leader  be  the  offender, 
the  steward  shall  act  as  prosecutor. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  in  case 
of  disputes  between  the  members  or 
preachers  ? 

Ans.  The  preacher  to  whom  it  shall 
be  known  shall  inquire  into  the  cir- 
cumstances of  the  case,  and,  if  neces- 
sary, shall  recommend  to  the  contend- 
ing parties  a  reference,  consisting  of 
one  arbiter,  chosen  by  the  plaintiff, 
and  another  by  the  defendant,  and  a 
third  by  these  two ;  then  these  three 
are  to  decide. 

But,  if  either  be  dissatisfied  with 
the  decision,  such  may  have  a  right  to 
an  appeal  to  the  next  quarterly  confer- 
ence for  a  second  arbitration,  where 
each  party  shall  choose  two  arbiters, 
and  the  four  shall  choose  a  fifth,  a  de- 
cision ot  the   majority  of  whom  shall 


80  UNITED    BRETHREN 

be  final.  Any  person  refusing  to 
abide  by  this  decision,  and  every  mem- 
ber refusing,  in  case  of  debt  or  dis- 
pute, to  refer  the  matter  to  arbitration 
when  recommended  to  him  by  a 
preacher  or  leader;  or  who  shall  enter 
into  a  lawsuit  with  another  member 
before  these  measures  are  taken,  shall 
be  expelled  without  further  process, 
and  his  or  her  name  be  erased  from 
the  Church  Record  by  the  preacher 
in  charge,  or  the  class  leader,  except 
when  the  case  is  of  such  a  nature  as  to 
req'uire  and  justify  a  process  at  law,  as 
executors  or  administrators,  or  when  a 
member  is  in  danger  of  suffering  an  un- 
expected loss  of  property. 

Every  class-leader  shall  keep  a  rec- 
ord of  the  proceedings  of  Church  trials, 
deaths,  expulsions,  and  removals,  in  a 
book  provided  for  that  purpose  ;  and 
it  shall  be  Lis  duly,  in  case  of  an  ap- 


DISCIPLINE.  81 


peal,  to  send  his  record  to  the  quar- 
terly conference. 


SECTION   XX. 
IMMOEAL    CONDUCT    OF    PREACHERS. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  when  an 
elder  or  preacher  is  reported  guilty  of 
immorality  ? 

Ans.  When  an  elder  or  preacher  in 
charged  with  immoral  conduct,  the 
preacher  to  whom  it  is  known  shall 
take  with  him  another  preacher,  ex- 
horter,  or  leader,  and  examine  into  the 
charge  ;  but,  as  the  Apostle  saith,  (1 
Tim.,  5th  chap.,  19th  verse)  :  "  Receive 
not  an  accusation  against  an  elder 
but  before  two  or  three  witnesses." 
If  no  one  is  found  willing  to  prose- 
cute the  case,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  quarterly  conference  to  appoint 
one  or  more  persons  tado  so.  Should 
6 


80, 

^  UNITED    BRETHREN 


it  appear  lie   is  justly  accused,  notice 
thereof  shall    be    given    him,    and    a 
time  and    place   appointed  where  the 
accuser  and  accused  shall  meet.     Then 
three    elders,    or   one    elder   and    two 
preachers,    shall    try    his     case,    who 
are  to  be    appointed   by    the   parties 
concerned,  each  party  appointing  one, 
and   the  two    a   third.      Should   they 
be  satisfied  that  the  accusation  is  sus- 
tained,  then    the   accused    shall   hold 
his  peace  until  the  annual  conference, 
where  he   shall    be    accountable.      If 
the  accused  refuse  to  choose  his  com- 
mittee-man when  properly  notified,  the 
quarterly   conference  shall    choose    a 
second  person,  and  these  two  a  third, 
which    committee    shall    try   the    case 
and   decide.      But  if  the   elder    be   a 
bishop,  he   shall   be  tried    by  the  an 
nual   conference  within  whose   boundi 
the     cause     of    accusation     occurred. 
Should  they  bs  satisfied   that  the  ac- 


DISCIPLINE.  83 

cusation  is  sustained,  then  the  accused 
shall  hold  his  peace  until  the  annual 
conference,  where  he  shall  be  account- 
able. But  should  sufficient  satisfac- 
tion be  given  by  an  expression  of 
repentance  or  otherwise,  he  may  be 
retained.  But  should  the  accused 
preacher,  elder,  or  bishop  refuse  to  at- 
tend, after  having  been  notified  of  the 
time  and  place  of  trial,  he  shall  be 
suspended ;  and  the  committee  shall 
notify  him  to  appear  at  the  next  quar- 
terly or  annual  conference,  to  answer 
to  the  charges  preferred  against  him ; 
and  if  he  fail  to  attend,  (unavoidable 
circumstances  excepted,)  he  shall  be 
suspended  or  expelled,  as  the  confer- 
ence may  think  proper. 

Also,  if  the  accused  preacher  or 
e-lder  be  a  member  of  the  annual  con- 
ference, the  presiding  elder  of  the  dis- 
trict upon  which  such  accused  preacher 
or  elder  lives,  or  of  the  adjoining  one, 


84  UNITED    BRETHREN 

bhall  act  as  chairman  on  the  trial  j  if 
he  be  a  member  of  the  quarterly  con- 
ference, the  preacher  in  charge  of  the 
circuit  upon  which  he  lives,  or  the 
next  nearest,  shall  sit  as  chairman  in 
trying  the  offense. 


SECTION   XXI. 
PEEACHERS'  SALARIES. 

1.  The  annual  allowance  of  a  trav- 
eling preacher  shall  be  such  sum  as 
may  be  agreed  upon  between  such 
preacher  and  the  Quarterly  Confer- 
ence of  the  field  of  labor  to  which  he 
is  sent. 

If  he  be  a  missionary  employed  by 
the  Board  of  Missions,  the  Board  shall 
grant  such  allowance  as  in  its  judgment 
it  shall  see  proper. 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  a  circuit 


DISCIPLINE.  85 

or  station,  when  a  preacher  is  sent  to 
it  by  annual  conference,  to  move  said 
preacher  on  such  circuit  or  station  at 
its  own  expense. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  for  the 
needy,  superannuated,  or  worn-out  trav- 
eling preachers,  and  their  widows  and 
orphans  ? 

Ans.  The  annual  conferences  to 
which  they  respectively  belong  shall 
make  provision  for  them. 


SECTION  XXII. 

SECRET  SOCIETIES. 

We  believe  that  secret  societies  are 
evil  in  their  nature  and  tendency; 
(a  secret  society  is  one  whose  initia- 
tory ceremony  is  a  secret ;)  and  any 
member  or  preacher  of  our  Church 
who  shall  be  found  connected,  in  any 
way,  with  such  a  society,  shall  be  ad- 


86  UNITED    BRETHREN 

monished  to  sever  said  connection.  If 
the  offender  be  a  lay  member  he  shall 
be  so  admonished  by  the  preacher  in 
charge ;  if  a  preacher,  or  exhorter,  by 
the  presiding  elder ;  if  a  presiding  elder, 
by  the  bishop  ;  if  a  bishop,  by  the  pre- 
siding elder  of  the  district  in  which 
such  bishop  may  reside. 

If  such  offending  person  fail  to  com- 
ply with  this  admonition  within  six 
months  after  it  is  given,  he  shall  be 
reported  to  the  class,  quarterly,  or  An- 
nual Conference,  as  the  case  may  be, 
and  his  name  be  erased  from  the 
record,  and  he  be  no  longer  considered 
a  member  of  our  Church, 

Provided^  that  should  the  accused 
deny  said  connection,  the  case  shall  be 
tried  according  to  Sections  xix  and  xx 
of  Discipline. 


DISCIPLINE.  87 

SECTION   XXIII. 
SLAVERY. 

All  slavery,  in  every  sense  of  the 
word,  is  totally  prohibited,  and  shall 
in  no  way  be  tolerated  in  our  Church. 
Should  any  be  found  in  our  society 
who  hold  slaves,  they  can  not  continue 
as  members  unless  they  do  personally 
manumit  or  set  free  such  slaves. 

And  when  it  is  known  to  any  of  our 
ministers  in  charge  of  a  circuit,  sta- 
tion, or  mission,  that  any  of  its  mem- 
bers hold  a  slave  or  slaves,  he  shall 
admonish  such  members  to  manu- 
mit such  slave  or  slaves ;  and  if  such 
persons  do  not  take  measures  to  carry 
out  the  discipline,  they  shall  be  ex- 
pelled by  the  proper  authorities  of  the 
Church;  and  any  minister  refusing  to 
attend  to  the  duties  above  described, 
shall  be  dealt  with  by  the  authorities 
to  which  he  is  amenable. 


88  UNITED    BRETHREN 

SECTION  XXIV. 
WAE. 

We  most  positively  record  our  dis- 
approval of  engaging  in  voluntary, 
national,  aggressive  warfare ;  yet  we 
recognize  the  rightful  authority  of  the 
civil  government,  and  hold  it  responsi- 
ble for  the  preservation  and  defense 
of  our  national  compact,  against  trea- 
son, or  invasion  by  any  belligerent 
force  ;  and  we  believe  it  to  be  entirely 
consistent  with  the  spirit  of  Christian- 
ity to  bear  arras  when  called  upon  to 
do  so  by  the  properly-constituted  au- 
thorities of  our  government,  for  its 
preservation  and  defense. 

1  SECTION  XXV. 

DOCTRINAL  PUBLICATIONS. 
No  one  of  our  preachers  or  laymen 


DISCIPLINE.  89 

shall  become  tte  author  of  any  doc- 
trinal book  or  pamphlet,  in  a  printed 
form,  in  the  name  of  the  Church,  with- 
out the  approbation  of  the  annual  con- 
ference, or  of  a  committee  chosen  by 
the  same.  And  if  any  preacher  or 
layman  violates  this  rule,  he  shall  be 
accountable  to  the  class,  or  the  quar- 
terly or  annual  conference,  as  the  case 
may  be. 

SECTION  XXVI. 
OATHS. 

We  believe  that  the  mode  of  testify- 
ing to  the  truth  when  required  so  to 
do  in  a  legal  form,  by  way  of  affirma- 
tion, is  on  us  solemnly,  conscientiously, 
and  fully  binding,  before  God,  to  tell 
the  truth,  the  whole  truth,  and  nothing 
but  the  truth. 


90  UNITED    BRETHREN 

SECTION  XXVII. 

ARDENT  SPIRITS. 

The  distilliDg,  vending,  and  use  of 
ardent  spirits  as  a  beverage  shall  be, 
and  is  hereby  forbidden  throughout 
our  society;  and  should  any  of  our 
members  or  preachers  be  found  guilty 
in  this  respect,  they  shall  be  dealt 
with  as  in  case  of  other  immoralities ; 
provided,  however,  that  this  rule  shall 
not  be  so  construed  as  to  prevent  drug- 
gists and  others  from  vending  or  using 
it  for  medicinal  or  mechanical  pur- 
poses. 

SECTION  XXVIII. 

NECESSITY   OF   UNION  AMONG 
OURSELVES. 

Let  us  be  deeply  sensible  (from 
what  we  have  known)  of  the  evil  of  a 
division  in  principle,  spirit  or  practice, 
and  of  the  dreadful  consequences  to  our- 


DISCIPLINE.  91 

selves  and  others.  If  we  are  united, 
what  can  stand  before  us  ?  If  we  are 
divided,  we  shall  injure  ourselves,  the 
work  of  God,  and  the  souls  of  our 
people. 

What  can  be  done  in  order  to  a 
closer  union  with  each  other  ? 

1.  Let  us  be  deeply  convinced  of 
the  absolute  necessity  of  it. 

2.  Pray  earnestly  for,  and  speak 
truly  and  freely  to  each  other. 

3.  When  we  meet,  let  us  never  pari 
without  prayer,  when  practicable. 

4.  Take  great  care  not  to  despise 
each  other's  gifts. 

5.  Never  speak  lightly  of  each 
other. 

6.  Let  us  defend  each  other's  char- 
acter in  every  thing,  so  far  as  is  con- 
sistent with  truth. 

7.  Labor  in  honor,  each  preferring 
another  before  himself. 

8.  We  recommend  a  serious   exam- 


92  UNITED   BRETHREN 

ination  of  the  causes,  evils,  and  cures 
of  heart  and  Church  divisions. 


SECTION  XXIX. 

VISITING  FEOM  HOUSE  TO  HOUSE,  AND 
ENFOECING  PRACTICAL  RELIGION. 

Ques.  How  can  we  further  assist 
those  under  our  care? 

Ans.  By  instructing  them  at  their 
own  houses,  which  is  necessary  to  pro- 
mote confidence  and  communion  with 
Grod  among  us,  to  wean  us  from  the 
love  of  the  world,  and  to  inure  us  to  a 
life  of  heavenly-mindedness;  also,  to 
encourage  us  to  strive  after  and  prac- 
tice brotherly  love,  that  no  evil  think- 
ing or  judging  of  one  another  be  found 
among  us;  and  lastly,  that  we  may 
learn  to  do  as  we  would  wish  to  be 
done  by. 

2.    Every  preacher  should  make  it 


DISCIPLINE.  93 

his  duty  to  instruct  the  people  on  every 
occasion,  both  public  and  private,  and 
exhort  them  to  be  diligent  in  all  good 
works  and  doctrine.  Until  this  be 
done,  and  that  in  sincerity,  we  shall, 
upon  the  whole,  be  of  but  little  use, 
and  our  good  shall  be  evil  spoken  of; 
therefore,  wherever  we  may  be,  we 
should  guard  against  useless  and  idle 
conversation. 

Undoubtedly  this  private  applica- 
tion of  visiting  from  house  to  house, 
and  exhorting  the  people,  is  found  or 
implied  in  these  solemn  words  of  the 
apostle  : 

■'  I  charge  thee,  theiefore,  before 
God,  and  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  who 
shall  judge  the  quick  and  the  dead  at 
his  appearing  and  his  kingdom  ;  preach 
the  word;  be  instant  in  season,  out  of 
season ;  reprove,  rebuke,  exhort  with 
all  long  suffering  and  doctrine."  2 
Tim.  4 :  1,2. 


94  UNITED    BRETUREN 

SECTION  XXX. 

SABBATH-SCHOOLS. 

1.  What  shall  be  done  to  benefit  the 
rising  generation  ? 

Ans.  Let  him  who  is  in  any  way 
zealous  for  God  and  the  souls  of  men 
begin  the  work  immediately.  Wher- 
ever children  are  found,  speak  freely 
to  them  and  instruct  them  diligently ; 
exhort  them  to  be  good,  and  pray  with 
them  earnestly,  yet  simply  and  plainly, 
that  they  may  learn  to  know  their 
Creator  and  Redeemer  in  the  days  of 
their  youth. 

2.  For  the  more  harmonious  and 
successful  operation  of  this  good  work, 
we  would  present  the  following 

CONSTITUTION  AND  BY-LAWS. 

Art.  I. 

This  shall  be  called  the  Sabbath- 
school  Association  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ. 


DISCIPLINE.  95 

Art.  II. 

The  object  of  this  association  shall 
be*  to  promote  the  cause  of  Sabbath- 
schools  in  connection  with  our  Church, 
and  elsewhere,  and  thus,  by  our  united 
efforts,  to  promote  the  glory  of  Grod  and 
the  happiness  and  final  salvation  of 
mankind. 

Art.  III. 

Sec.  I.  The  officers  of  the  associa- 
ton  shall  consist  of  three  general  of- 
ficers, viz. :  superintendent,  treasurer, 
and  secretary,  and  six  directors,  who 
together  shall  constitute  a  board  of 
directors ;  and  shall  be  elected  every 
four  years  by  the  General  Conference. 

Sec.  II.  The  general  officers  shall 
constitute  a  publishing  committee,  to 
whom  all  books,  and  manuscript  books, 
and  tracts  are  to  be  submitted  for  ex- 
amination and  publication. 


96  UNITED   BRETHREN 

Sec.  III.  The  superintendent  shall 
have  the  general  operations  of  the  as- 
sociation under  his  care;  he  shall  pre- 
side at  all  the  meetings  of  the  board  of 
directors,  and  in  conjunction  with  the 
secretary  he  may  call  such  meetings  at 
any  time ;  and  he  shall  sign  all  orders 
drawn  on  the  treasurer  for  the  use  of 
the  association  as  appropriated  by  the 
board. 

Sec.  IV.  The  treasurer  shall  take 
charge  of  and  hold  in  trust  all  the 
funds  and  papers  of  value  belonging  to 
the  association,  subject  to  the  direc- 
tions of  the  board  of  directors  and  the 
order  of  the  superintendent. 

Sec.  V.  The  secretary  shall  keep  a 
record  of  the  business  transactions  of 
the  association,  and  conduct  its  corre- 
spondence ;  he  shall  publish  annual  re- 
ports of  the  workings  of  the  associa- 
tion, embracing  statistics  and  other 
matters  of  interest,  and,  at  the  request 


DlSClPLINi!..  y? 

of  thtt  board  of  directors,  lie  shall  de- 
vote his  whole  time  to  the  business  und 
interests  of  the  association. 

Sec.  VI.  The  board  of  directors 
shall  hold  annual  meeting\s,  to  deter- 
mine the  salaries  of  the  general  offi- 
cers; provide  ways  and  means  to  carry 
into  successful  operation  the  plan  and 
purpose  of  this  association  ;  and  appro- 
priate money  to  defray  all  necessary 
expenses,  and  they  shall  fill  all  vacan- 
cies occurring  in  the  offices  and  direc- 
tors of  the  association. 

Art.  IV. 

Sec.  I.  The  funds  coming  into  the 
treasury  shall  be  used  as  follows :  one- 
fourth  of  all  such  funds  shall  be  set 
apart  to  constitute  a  publication  fund, 
and  shall  only  be  used  to  pay  for  man- 
uscript or  copyright  books  and  tracts 
suitable  for  Sabbath-schools  and  their 

publieatioo. 

7 


i>8  UNITED    BRETHREN 

Sec.  II.,  The  balance  of  such  funds 
shall  be  used  to  conduct  the  business 
of  the  association,  and  to  assist  in  or- 
ganizing Sabbath -schools  in  localities 
where  our  Church  has  not  a  sufficient 
membership  to  bear  the  necessary  ex- 
penses. 

Sec.  III.  When  such  aid  is  needed, 
those  making  the  application  shall  or- 
ganize a  Sabbath-school  by  electing  of- 
ficers and  adopting  the  rules  and  regu- 
lations provided  by  the  constitution 
and  by-laws  of  this  association,  and 
make  known  the  fact  of  such  action 
to  the  secretary,  as  well  as  the  kind 
and  amount  of  help  needed  ;  and  upon 
a  favorable  consideration  of  the  appli- 
cation by  the  general  officers,  the  sec- 
retary shall  furnish  such  supplies  as 
may  be  considered  necessary  and  ad- 
visable ;  provided,  however,  that  such 
donations  shall  not  be  continued  where 
no  Church  organization  can  be  effected 
within  a  reasonable  time. 


DISCII'LINE.  99 

Art.  V. 

Each  Conference  shall,  at  some  suita- 
ble time  during  its  annual  sessions,  hold 
Sabbath -school  anniversary  meetings 
for  the  purpose  of  advancing  the  ob- 
ject and  interest  of  the  association,  and 
forward  to  the  general  secretary  the 
minutes  of  such  conference  containing 
proceedings  of  the  anniversary  exer- 
cises, etc. 

Art.  VI. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  all  our 
preachers,  whether  local  or  traveling, 
to  exert  their  influence  in  favor  of  this 
organization,  and  to  assist  in  organizing 
and  sustaining  Sabbath-schools  wher- 
ever it  may  be  practicable ;  and  those 
in  charge  of  a  work  shall  preach  on 
the  subject  of  Sabbath-schools  at  least 
once  a  year  at  each  appointment,  and 
report  the  following  items  to  the  An- 
nual Conference:    1.  The  number  of 


100  UNITED    BRETHREN 

schools  organized  ;  2.  The  whole  num^ 
ber  in  his  charge ;  3.  The  number  of 
scholars  enrolled;  4.  The  number  of 
teachers  appointed  ;  5.  The  amount  of 
money  collected.  1.  For  the  use  of 
the  school.     2.  For  the  general  fund. 

Art.  VII. 

Sec.  I.  The  superintendents  of  Sab- 
bath-schools shall  be  elected  annually 
by  the  members  of  the  Church  and 
members  of  the  S.  S.,  twelve  years  of 
age  and  over.  The  Superintendents, 
when  members  of  the  Church,  shall  be 
members  of  Quarterly  Conference,  and 
shall  be^  responsible  to  that  body  for 
their  moral  and  official  conduct,  and 
may  be  dismissed  for  any  delinquency, 
and  the  Quarterly  Conference  appoint 
one  to  fill  the  vacancy  until  another 
election  can  be  held. 

Sec.  2.  The  superintendent  of  a 
Sabbath-school  shall,  in  every,  case  be  a 


DISCII'jJNE.  101 

member  of  our  Church,  except  in  a 
case  of  a  mission  or  other  school,  where, 
if  there  is  no  suitable  menaber  of  our 
Church,  some  other  competent  person 
may  be  elected. 

Art.  VIII. 

Sec.  I.  Every  Sabbath-school  in  our 
Church  shall  organize  a  Sabbath-school 
missionary  association,  which  shall  be 
auxiliary  to  the  Sabbath-school  Associ- 
ation of. the  United  Brethren  in  Christ. 

Sue.  II.  Any  person  paying  twenty- 
five  cents  annually  shall  be  considered 
a  member  of  the  auxiliary  association, 
such  funds  to  be  for  the  exclusive  use 
of  the  general  association,  to  be  col- 
lected by  the  superi-ntendent  annually 
in  the  month  of  May,  and  forwarded  to 
the  general  treasurer. 

Art.  IX:. 
In  addition  to  the  above  constitution 


102  UNITED    lUlETIIKEN 

our  Sabbath -schools  shall  adopt  the 
following  by-laws  for  their  own  regu- 
lation and  government: 

BY-LAWS. 

Sec.  I.  Each  auxiliary  sabbath- 
Bchool  association  shall  elect  atinually 
one  secretary  and  one  treasurer,  each 
to  continue  in  office  till  his  successor  is 
elected.  They,  in  connection  with  the 
superintendent,  shall  be  the  officers  of 
the  association,  and  of  the  Sabbath- 
school  ;  the  officers  may,  by  the  consent 
of  the  school,  choose  assistants. 

Sec.  II.  The  members  of  the  aux- 
iliary association  may  meet  at  any 
time  when  the  interest  of  the  Sabbath- 
school  shall  demand  it :  to  devise  plans, 
appropriate  funds,  and  supply  means 
to  promote  the  object  of  the  organiza- 
tion, and  to  fill  any  vacancies  that  may 
occur  in  the  office  of  secretary  and 
treasurer. 


DISCIPLINE.  103 

Sec.  III.  All  persons  whose  names 
are  recorded  on  the  roll-book,  and  have 
become  generally  attentive,  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Sabbath-school. 

SECTION   XXXI 

OEDER  TO  BE  OBSERVED  IN"  BUILDING 

MEETING-HOUSES. 

Ques.  Is  any  thing  advisable  in  re- 
gard to  the  building  of  meeting- 
houses ? 

Ans.  Let  all  our  meeting-houses  be 
built  plain  and  neat,  with  free  seats, 
and  not  move  expensive  than  neces- 
sary. 

Ques.  To  whom  are  our  meeting- 
houses, and  the  premises  belonging  to 
them,  to  be  deeded? 

Ans.  To  a  board  of  trustees,  and 
their  successors  in  office,  in  trust,  as 
property  of  the  Church  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ. 


104  UNITED    BRETHREN 

Ques.  How  is  the  board  of  trustees 
to  be  constituted? 

Ans.  Whenever  it  is  contemplated 
bv  a  Bociety  to  purchase  or  build  a 
meeting-house,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of 
a  leader  or  steward  of  such  society  to 
make  it  known  to  the  quarterly  con- 
ference of  the  circuit  or  station  to 
which  he  belongs,  whose  duty  it  shall 
be  to  appoint  a  judicious  board  of 
trustees,  of  not  less  than  three  in 
number,  or  as  the  law  of  the  state  in 
which  said  house  is  to  be  built  may 
direct ;  provided,  however,  that  at  least 
a  majority  of  such  board  of  trustees 
shall  be  members  of  our  Church.  The 
trustees  shall  hold  their  office  during 
the  pleasure  of  the  quarterly  con- 
ference. 

Ques.  How  are  the  trustees  to  pro- 
ceed in  building  a  house? 

Ayu.  No  society  shall  commence  the 
building  of  any  meeting-house  without 


DISCMPLINE.  105 

first  getting  an  act  of  incorporation, 
where  the  law  of^the  state  requires  it. 
They  shall  form  an  estimate  of  the 
am(flint  necessary  to  procure  a  lot,  to 
build,  and  to  make  such  other  im- 
provements as  may  be  conceived  nec- 
essary. And  they  shall  at  no  time 
proceed  with  the  building  of  a  house 
of  worship  beyond  the  means,  either 
in  hand,  or  sufficiently  secured,  so  as 
to  aVoid  involving  our  houses  of  wor- 
ship in^  any  way  in  debt ;  and  also 
secure  a  lawful  title  for  the  lot  upon 
which  they  intend  to  build. 

The  trustees  shall  hold  annual  meet- 
ings, and  keep  a  fair  and  regular  rec- 
ord of  the  transactions  of  the  board, 
in  a  book  provided  for  that  purpose, 
tvhich  shall  at  all  times  be  open  for 
inspection  by  th«  quarterly  conference 
of  said  circuit  or  station. 

To  take  charge  of  the  meeting- 
house, property,  furniture,  premises, 
burial-grounds,  etc.  • 


106  ^INITEP    BRETHREN 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  when  a 
vacancy  or  vacancies  occur  in  the 
board  of  trustees? 

Ans.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  ^he 
quarterly  conference  to  appoint  a  suit- 
able person  or  persons  to  fill  such 
vacancies. 

Ques.  What  shall  be  done  when  any 
of  our  houses  are  vacant  ? 

Ans.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
quarterly  conference  of  the  nearest  cir- 
cuit or  station  to  appoint  npt  lesa 
than  three  suitable  persons  for  trus- 
tees, who  shall  have  the  power,  when 
authorized  by  two-thirds  of  the  mem- 
bers of  that  conference,  to  lease,  rent, 
or  sell  such  meeting-house,  and  the 
appurtenances  belonging  to  it;  and  to 
appropriate  the  money  arising  from 
such  lease,  rent,  or  sale,  by  the  direc- 
tion of  said  conference,  toward  the 
erection  of  new  meeting-houses,  or  the 
liquidation  of  debts  on  old  ones.     If 


DTSCiPLlNE.  107 

the  vacated  house  be  a  parsonage,  its 
proceeds  shall  be  applied  to  a  like 
purpose.  When  a  lot  is  deeded  to  an 
English  United  Brethren  Society,  or  to 
a  German  United  Brethren  society,  and 
one  or  the  other  party  cease  to  exist  in 
an  organized  form  by  deaths,  removals, 
expulsions  or  otherwise,  the  remaining 
organized  class  shall  have  full  right  to 
make  such  improvements  or  repairs  on 
said  lot,  as  may  be  needed  for  worship, 
and  a  peaceable  possession. 

The  above  rules  to  be  observed  in 
purchasing  or  building  parsonage- 
chouses. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  our  presid- 
ing elders,  as  soon  as  .convenient,  to 
appoint,  or  see  that  three  or  five  suit- 
able persons  are  appointed,  with  the 
consent  of  the  quarterly  conference,  to 
take  up  subscriptions  to  build  or  pur- 
chase parsonage-houses  for  their  re- 
spective  stations  or  circuits,  the  same 


108  UNITED    BRETHREN 

to  be  deeded  to  tliose  three  or  five 
trustees,  and  their  successors  in  office, 
for  the  use  of  the  Church  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Christ.  We  command  that 
all  our  parsonage-houses  be  plain,  and 
located  in  some  central  place. 

Note. — The  trustees  should  be  careful  in 
all  cases  to  have  deeds  of  conveyance  le- 
gally executed,  and  recorded  in  the  county 
records  where  the  property  is;  that  is,  to 
have  the  deed  made  to  them  and  their  suc- 
cessors in  office,  in  trust,  for  tlic  Church 
of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ;  and  to 
erect  and  build,  or  cause  to  be  built,  a 
liouse  of  worship  for  the  niembers  of  said 
Church. 


DISCIPLINE.  1.09 


SECTION  xxxri. 

t 

SINGING. 


We  believe  it  to  be  the  duty  of  all 
the  people  of  God  to  sing  his  praises; 
and  to  sine;  them  in  the  sfreat  consfre- 
gation  as  well  as  in  the  private  circle. 
We  therefore  earnestly  recommend  to 
all  our  people  the  cultivation  of  vocal 
music,  so  that  the  siuging  in  our  con- 
gregations may  be  improved.  As  a 
help  to  this  end  we  advise  all  our 
people  to  provide  themselves  with 
Hymn  Books  fur  use  iu  times  of  pub- 
lic aud  social  worship. 

We  would  counsel  our  societies  to 
avoid  the  introduction  of  choirs  ;nid 
iu«trunieutal  music  into  their  worship. 


llO  UNITED    BRETliKEN 


SECTION    XXXIII. 

t 

CONSTITUTION    OF   THE    MISSION AEY 

SOCIETY. 

I.  This  society  shall  be  called  the 
'■'•Home,  Frontier^  and  Foreign  Mis- 
sionary Society  of  the  United  Brethren 
in  Christ,"  and  is  organized  for  the 
purpose  of  aiding  the  annual  confer- 
ences in  extending  their  missionary  la- 
bors throughout  the  country,  and  into 
foreign  and  heathen  lands. 

II.  The  payment  of  ten  dollars  at 
one  time  shall  constitute  a  life  mem- 
ber, or  fifty  dollars  at  one  time  a  life 
director.  No  certificate  of  life-mem- 
bership or  life -directorship  shall  be 
granted  until  the  full  amount  is  paid. 

III.  The  officers  of  this  society 
shall  consist  of  a  President,  three 
Vice-Presidents,  Secretary,  Treasurer, 
and  six  Directors,  who,  together,  shall 


DISCIPLINE.  Ill 

constitute  a  Board  of  Directors  ;  and 
shall  be  elected  every  four  years  by 
the  General  Conference. 

IV.  The  president  shall  preside  at 
all  meetings  of  the  board,  and  shall 
have  power,  in  conjunction  with  the 
secretary,  to  call  special  meetings.  In 
the  absence  of  the  president,  one  of 
the  vice-presidents  shall  fill  his  place. 

V.  The  secretary  shall  keep  a  cor- 
rect record  of  all  the  proceedings  of 
the  society,  conduct  its  correspond- 
ence, and  devote  nimself  exclusively 
to  the  interests  of  the  society.  He 
shall  keep  a  record  of  all  the  life  mem- 
bers, life  directors,  legacies,  etc.,  etc. 
He  shall  also  make  out,  and  publish, 
under  the  direction  of  the  board,  an 
annual  report  of  the  whole  missionary 
work;  also  a  quadrennial  report  to  the 
General  Conference.  His  salary  shall 
be  determined  by  the  board,  according 
to  the  Discipline. 


112  UNITED    BRETHREN 

VI.  The  treasurer  shall  hold  the 
funds  of  the  society,  subject  to  the 
order  of  the  board,  and,  at  the  discre- 
tion of  the  boar^,  devote  himself  ex- 
clusively to  the  interests  of  the  Mis- 
sionary Society. 

VII.,  The  board  of  directors  shall 
hold  annual  meetings ;  have  power  to 
appoint  an  executive  committee,  con- 
sisting of  five  members ;  make  by- 
laws to  regulate  its  own  business ;  ap- 
propriate money  ta  defray  incidental 
expenses ;  employ  missionaries  and 
agents ;  open  new  missions ;  employ 
laborers  for  mission  conferences  ;  dis- 
solve mission  conferences  ;  fill  vacancies 
in  its  own  body  ;  in  connection  with  the 
bishops,  or  any  one  of  them,  ordain  min- 
isters to  the  ofiice  of  elder  ;  and  publish, 
at  our  own  press,  such  matter  as  the 
eause  may  from  time  to  time  demand. 

VIII.  Each  missionary  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the    board   shall   report  quar- 


DISCIPLINE.  113 

txirly  to  (he  secretary  the  condition  of 
his  mission  ;  and  no  missionary  shall 
be  entitled  to  his  salary  who  shall  neg- 
lect to  comply  with  this  requirement. 
The  presiding  elders  of  mission  con- 
ferences shall  report  quarterly  the  con- 
dition of  their  respective  works. 

IX.  Each  conference  shall  be  con- 
sidered a  branch  of  this  society,  and 
shall  elect  a  treasurer  and  secretary. 
1.  The  b]-anch  treasurer  shall  hold 
the  funds  designed  for  the  board,  sub- 
ject to  its  order.  2.  The  branch  sec- 
retary shall  keep  a  record  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  annual  coni'erence  in 
relation  to  Uonie,  i'rontier,  and  foreign 
missions,  separately,  and  report  the 
same  immediately  after  the  session  of 
the  Conference  to  the  secretary  of  the 
board. 

He  shall  report  the  number  of  mis- 
sions; appointments;  Sabbath-schools, 
scholars  and  teachers ;  what  paid  on 
8 


114  UNITED   BRETHREN 

missions  as  salary ;  what  collected  for 
missions  on  missions;  what  collected 
for  missions  in  the  whole  Conference; 
how  much  paid  the  parent  board,  and 
how  much  paid  to  home  missions ;  and 
the  names  and  post-office  address  of  life 
directors  and  life  members. 

The  branch  secretaries  shall  be  re- 
sponsible to  their  respective  annual 
conferences  for  the  faithful  discharge 
of  their  duties. 

Each  of  our  Sabbath-schools  is  here- 
by constituted  an  auxiliary  to  the 
branch  society  within  whose  limits  it 
is  located ;  and  the  superintendent, 
secretary,  and  treasurer  of  the  Sab- 
bath-school shall  be  president,  secre- 
tary, and  treasurer  of  the  said  aux- 
iliary, and  shall  report  annually, 
through  the  preacher  in  charge,  to 
the  branch  society. 

Said  preacher  is  to  notify  the  above- 
named  officers,  at  the  close  of  each  Con- 


,  DISCIPLINE.  115 

ference  year,  that  such  report  is  due, 
and,  if  need  be,  assist  in  its  preparation. 
Any  person  may  become  a  life  mem- 
ber of  the  auxiliary  by  the  payment  of 
three  dollars,  and  shall  be  entitled  to 
a  certificate  of  life  membership. 

X.  The  branch  societies,  or  indi- 
vidual members,  may  specify  to  what 
particular  portion  of  the  work  their 
funds  shall  be  applied  ;  provided,  how- 
ever, that  if  more  is  thus  designated 
than  is  necessary  for  the  work  speci- 
fied, it  may  be  applied  to  some  othe? 
work,  as  the  board  shall  determine. 

XI.  Each  branch  society  shall  have 
the  exclusive  management  of  the  home 
missions  within  it  own  limits. 

XII.  Treasurers  of  the  parent  board 
and  of  the  branch  societies  shall  give 
approved  security. 

XIII.  All  bequests  or  donations, 
the  interest  of  which  is  to  go  to  mis- 
sionary purposes,  made  to  any  of  the 


116  UNITED    BRETHREN 

above  societies,  shall  be  kept  sacred. 

Form  of  Bequest. — I  give  and  be- 
queath to  the  Home,  Frontier,  and 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ,  organized 
by  the  General  Conference  of  said 
Church,  May  20.  1853,  and  incor- 
porated in  Butler  County,  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember 23,  1851,  the  sum  of dol- 
lars; and  the  receipt  of  tlio  treasurer 
of  the  society  shall  ho  a>ufficient  dis- 
charge tliereof  to  my  executors  and 
administrators. 

• 
SECTION    XXXIV. 
CHURCH  ERECTION  SOCIETY. 

I.  This  society  shall  be  known  as 
The  Church  Erection  Society  of  the 
Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christy 
aud  is  organized  for  the  purpose^  of 
aiding  feeble  societies  in  the  erection 
of  houses  of  worship. 

II.  The  board  of  missions  and  the 


DISCIPLINE.  117 

bishops  shall  constitute  the  board  of 
managers  of  this  society,  and  shall  be 
governed  by  the  constitution  and  by- 
laws of  the  missionary  society  so  far  as 
they  are  applicable  to  this  society. 

III.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of 
preachers  in  charge  of  fields  of  labor 
throughout  the  Church  to  solicit  dona- 
tions annually  to  the  fund  of  this  so- 
ciety, and  pay  them  over  to  their  re- 
spective Annual  Conferences,  who  shall 
transmit  them  through  the  branch  mis- 
sionary treasurer  to  the  treasurer  of  the 
parent  board  at  Dayton,  Ohio. 

It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  bishops 
to  superintend  this  interest  in  their  re- 
spective districts,  and  enlist  the  confer- 
ences in  its  behalf. 

IV.  The  treasurer  of  the  parent 
Bo:ird  of  Missions  shall  receipt  to  the 
branch  missionary  treasurers  for  all 
monies  sent  him,  that  they  may  make 
settlement  with  their  respective  annual 
conferences. 


118  UNITED    BRETHREN 

V.  Application  for  aid  from  tJiis  so- 
ciety must  be  made  to  tlie  board  of  man- 
agers, through  the  presiding  elder  or 
preacher  in  charge,  who  shall  state  in 
writing  the  condition  of  the  society,  if 
any  exists,  desiring  such  aid,  the  pros- 
pects of  success,  and  the  security  of  the 
investment. 

VI.  Should  any  society  thus  aided 
lose  its  organization,  so  as  to  make  the 
sale  of  such  house  necessary,  then,  out 
of  the  proceeds  of  such  sale,  the  amount 
loaned  them,  with  interest,  shall  be  re- 
funded to  the  parent  board. 

VII.  The  board  shall  make  no  ap- 
propriations where  there  is  reasonable 
prospect  that  the  society  asking  aid- 
can  succeed  without  it ;  also,  where 
there  is  no  prospect  of  building  a  good 

society.  , 

VIII.  All  aid  rendered  shall  be  only 
as  a  loan,  the  principal  to  be  refunded, 
without  interest,  at  such  times  as  the 
board  may  direct 


DISCIPLINE.  119 

SECTION  XXXIV. 

RULES    AND     REGULATIONS     OF    OUR 

PRINTING    ESTABLISHMENT,  IN 

DAYTON,  OHIO. 

Rule  1.  The  above  establishmeat 
shall  be  called  "  The  Printing  Estab- 
lishment of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ." 

Rule  2.  The  legislative  authority 
herein  granted  shall  be  vested  in  the 
General  Conference  of  said  Church, 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  elect  the 
necessary  officers  not  otherwise  pro- 
vided for,  and  make  or  amend  any 
rules  as  in  their  judgment  may  seem 
expedient. 

Rule  3.  The  proceeds  of  said  estab- 
lishment, over  and  above  contingent 
expen'ses,  shall  be  applied  to  the  benefit 
of  traveling  and  worn-out  preachers, 
and  their  widows  and  orphans ;  this 
division  to  occur  equally  and  annually 


120  UNITED    BRETHREN 

among     the    different    annual    confer- 
ences. 

Kule  4.  A  board  of  five  trustees, 
elected  by  tbe  General  Conference, 
shall  take  the  oversight  of  the  estab- 
lishment. 

Rule  5.   The  oHicers  of  the  establish 
ment  shall  consist  of   one  agent    and 
treasurer,  and  such  number  of  editors 
as  the  General  Conference  shall  deem 
necessary. 

Rule  6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
trustees  to  make  settlement  with  the 
officers  ol"  the  establishment  every  six 
months,  and  see  that  they  properly  dis- 
charge their  duties,  and,  if  found  dere- 
lict, may  yuspcml  thein  from  office  until 
the  ensuing  General  Conference;  pro- 
vided, no  such  officers  shall  be  sus- 
pended until  they  have  been  furnished 
with  a  copy  of  the  complaints  in  writ- 
ing, and  have  had  an  opportunity  of 
defense  before  the  board  of  trustees. 


DISCIPLINE.  121 

The  trustees  shall,  as  book  commit- 
tee, examine,  purchase,  and  publish  or 
republish  books,  pamphlets,  and  tracts. 
They  'shall  also'  have  the  privilege  of 
making  any  by-laws  which  may  seem 
expedient  for  the  better  regulation  of 
the  minor  concerns  of  the  office  ;  pro- 
vided they  do  not  violate  any  part  of 
the  foregoing  rules. 

Rule  7.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
agent  to  take  charge  of  the  temporal 
concerns  of  the  office,  furnish  such 
material  as  may  be  needed,  and  to  act 
as  the  general  book  agent  under  the 
direction  of  the  board  of  trustees.  He 
'shall  prepare  and  publish  a  report  an- 
nually, through  the  Religious  Tclescojye 
and  Joyful  Messenger^  and  shall  also 
make  a  report  to  the  General  Confer- 
ence. 

Rule  8.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the 
treasurer  to  keep  the  book^;  jjcrtnining 
to    the   office,  and    hold   all   the  funds 


122  UNITED   BRETHREN 

thereof,  subject  to  the  order  of  the 
agent. 

Rule  9.  Should  a  vacancy  occur  in 
any  of  the  offices  of  the  establishment, 
or  in  the  board  of  trustees,  the  trustees 
may  fill  said  vacancy  until  the  sit- 
ting of  the  next  General  Conference. 

Rule  10.  No  editor  or  officer  em- 
ployed in  the  establishment  shall  accept 
any  office  or  engage  in  any  business 
which  will  interfere  with  the  duties  of 
his  office. 

SECTION  XXXV. 
MAREIAGE  CEREMONY. 

ADDRESS. 

We  are  gathered  together  in  the 
sight  of  God,  and  in  the  presence  of 
these  witnesses,  to  join  together  N. 
and  M.  as  husband  and  wife.  If  any 
person  present  knows  any  just  cause 


DISCIPLINE.  123 

or  impediment  why  these  persons 
should  not  be  joined  in  marriage,  let 
the  same  now  speal^,  or  forever  after 
keep  silent. 

[If  no  impediment  be  alleged,  then 
shall  the  minister  say  unto   the  man  :] 

"  N.,  wilt  thou  have  this  woman  to 
be  thy  wedded  wife,  to  live  together 
atlcr  God's  ordinance  ?  Wilt  thou 
love,  honor,  and  comfort  her,  in  sick- 
ness and  in  health,  in  prosperity  and 
adversity,  and  forsaking  all  others, 
keep  thee  only  unto  her  so  long  as  ye 
both  shall  live  ?  If  so,  then  answer, 
'  I  will' " 

[Then  shall  the  minister  say  to  tho 
woman:] 

$"  M.,  wilt  thou  have  this  man  to  bo 
thy  wedded  husband,  to  live  together 
after  God's  ordinance?  Wilt  thou 
love,  honor,  and  obey  him,  in  sickness 
and  in  health,  in  prosperity  and  ad- 
versity, and  forsaking  all  others,  keep 


124  UNITED    BRETHREN 

thee  only  unto  him  so  long  as  ye 
both  shall  live  ?  If  so,  then  answer, 
'I  will.'" 

[Then  the  minister  shall  require 
them  to  join  their  right-  hands,  and 
say  :] 

"  Those  whom  God  hath  joined  to- 
gether, let  no  man  put  asunder. 

"  Inasmuch  as  N.  and  M.  have  con- 
sented together  in  marriage,  and  have 
witnessed  the  same  before  God  and 
these  witnesses,  I  pronounce  them 
husband  and  wife,  in  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  Son,  and  of  the 
Holy  Ghost.     Amen." 

Ques.  Who  of  our  ministers  are  per- 
mitted to  solemnize  marriage  ? 

Arts.  All  ordained  ministers,  OTid 
also  those  that  feave  obtained  license 
from  an  annual  conference,  where  the 
law  of  the  state  makes  it  the  privilege 
of  every  regularly  licensed  minister  to 
solemnize  marriage  ;  but  none  are  per- 


DISCIPLINE.  125 

mitted    to     solemnize     marriage    with 
quarterly  conference  license, 


SECTION    XXXVI. 

BUPJAl.  OF  THE  DEAD. 

After  the  coffin  is  lowered  into  the 
grave,  the  ministtir,  if  the  deceased  is 
a  child  or  an  udult  Christian,  may  say: 

"Man  that  is  born  of  woman  is  of 
few  days  and  full  of  trouble.  He 
Cometh  forth  like  a  flower,  and  is  cut 
down  ;  he  tieeth  also  as  a  shadow,  and 
continueth  not." 

In  the  midst  of  life  we  are  in  death. 
Unto  whom  should  we  seek  for  succor 
but  unto  Thee,  0  Lord  !  who  for  our 
sins  art  justly  displeased?  Our  hope 
is  in  Thee  ;  for  Thou  hast  said  :  '•  I 
am  the  resurrection  and  the  lii'e  ;  he 
that  believeth  in  me,  though  he  were 
dead,    yet  shall    he   live  ;    and   whuso- 


126  UNITED    BEETIIREN 

ever  liveth  and   believeth  in  me  shall 
never  die." 

Inasmucli  as  God,  in  his  providence, 
has  called  out  of  time  into  eternity  the 
soul  of  our  (brother,  sister,  or  child), 
we  now  commit  his  (or  Jier)  body  to 
the  ground — earth  to  earth,  ashes  to 
ashes,  dust  to  dust — in  the  confident 
hope  that  Christ  will  raise  this  body 
in  the  great  day,  and  reunite  it  with 
the  soul,  and  receive  it  to  himself. 
A.men. 


SECTION  XXXVII. 

COURSE    OF  READING  AND  STUDY 

For  licentiate  preachers,  upon  which 
they  are  to  be  examined  by  the  annual 
conference  to  which  they  belong.  They 
shall  be  examined,  also,  each  year  of 
their  probation,  on  the  doctrine  and 
government  of  the  Church,  as  taught 


DISCIPLINE.  127 

in  our  book  of  Discipline.  It  is  pre- 
sumed that  a  fair  knowledge  of  the 
ordinary  branches  of  an  English  or 
German  education  has  been  acquired 
before  entering  upon  this  course.  If 
the  licentiate  does  not  possess  such 
knowledge,  he  shall  be  examined,  in 
each  year,  on  grammar  and  geog- 
raphy. 

FIRST  YEAR — BIBLE  DOCTRINE. 

Human  Depravity  ;  The  Atonement; 
Redemption;  Repentance;  Justification 
by  Faith ;  Regeneration  ;  Adoption ; 
Witness  of  the  Spirit;  Christian  Per- 
fection ;  Possibility  of  Final  Apostasy. 
Books  Required.  —  Bible;  Watson's 
Institutes  ;  Preacher's  Manual,  by  Stur^ 
tevant,  to  Lecture  XVI ;  Ripley's  Sa- 
cred Rhetoric  ;  Fletcher's  Appeal ;  His- 
tory of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ ; 
an  Essay  or  written  Sermon. 

Books    Recommended. —  Bridge's 


128  UNITED    BRETHREN 

Christian  Ministry  ;  Upham's  Life  of 
Faith ;  Philosophy  of  the  Plan  of  Sal- 
vation ;  Whateley's  Rhetoric ;  Shedd's 
Christian  Doctrine. 

SECOND  YEAR — BIBLE  DOCTRINE. 

Existence  and  Attributes  of  God ; 
Trinity ;  Divinity  and  Humanity  of 
Christ;  Personality  and  Deity  of  the 
Holy  Ghost ;  Immortality  of  the  Soul ; 
Kesurrection  of  the  Body;  Future 
General  Judgment ;  Eternal  Rewards 
and  Punishments. 

Bouks  Required. — Bible;  Watson's 
Institutes,  continued;  Preacher's  Man- 
ual, by  Stuvtevanr,  from  Lecture  XVI 
to  the  end;  Musheim's  Church  His- 
tory to  the  ileformatiou ;  Alexander's 
Evidences  of  Christianity;  Waylands 
Moral  Science,  written  Sermon. 

J3ooks  Recommended. — Upham's  In- 
terior Life ;  Neander's  Planting  and 
Training    of    the    Christian     Church, 


DISCIPLINE.  129 

(Robinson's  translation)  ;  Jahu's  Ar- 
chaeology; Haven's  Mental  Pliilos- 
opliy;  Weber's  Universal  History; 
Shedd's  Homiletics. 

THIRD  YEAR — BIBLE  INSTITUTIONS. 

The  Christian  Sabbath  ;  the  Lord's 
Supper;  Christian  Baptism. 

Books  Required. — Bible  ;  Mosheim's 
Church  History,  from  the  Reforma- 
tion to  the  close  ;  Coleman's  Geo- 
graphical History  of  the  Bible ;  But- 
ler's Analogy ;  McClelland's  Canon 
and  Interpretation  of  Scripture ;  Whate- 
ly's  Logic,  written  Sermon. 

Books  Recommended. — Viuet's  Hom- 
iletics; D'Aubigne's  History  of  the 
Reformation;  Josephus'  Antiquities  of 
the  Jews ;  Hackett's  Illustrations  of 
Scripture ;  Upham's  Divine  Union ;  Gril- 
fillan  on  the  Sabbath. 

Any  licentiate  who  fails  to  read  the 
books   required,  and  to  submit  to  the 


130  UNITED    BRETHREN 

examination,  shall,  at  tlie  close  of  the 
third  year  of  his  probation  at  farthest, 
be  erased  from  the  annual  conference 
record,  unless  a  reasonable  excuse  can 
be  given  for  such  failure. 

No  candidate  for  the  ministry  shall 
receive  ordination  until  he  has  com- 
pleted his  course  of  study,  except  in 
extraordinary  cases,  such  as  mission- 
aries, and  persons  who  have  otherwise 
received  a  fair  theological  training. 

GERMAN    COURSE    OF    READING. 

1st  Year.  Bible,  Discipline,  History 
of  the  United  Brethren  Church,  Clark's 
Hand-book,  Fletcher's  Appeal,  Nelson 
on  Infidelity,  Herr  on  Justification, 
Heyse's  German  Grammar,  written  Ser- 
mon. 

2d  Year.  Bible,  Church  History,  Dis- 
cipline, and  Grammar  continued.  Buck's 
Theological   Dictionary,    D'Aubigne's 


DISCIPLINE.  131 

ReformatioD,  Zellers  ou  the  Soul, 
Philosophy  of  the  Plan  of  Salvation, 
Essay. 

3d  Year.  Bible,  Discipline,  and 
Grammar  continued,  Lisco's  Apostolic 
Creed,  Preface  to  Nast's  Commentary, 
Nast  on  the  (lod-Man  Christ,  Erdman's 
first  Christian  Church. 

SECTION   XXXIX. 
CHARTERS. 

Whereas,  the  laws  of  certain  states 
require  churches  and  institutions  to 
be  incorporated,  in  order  to  be  recog- 
nized by  law : 

Therefore,  in  such  cases,  the  quar- 
terly conference  of  the  respective  cir- 
cuits, stations,  and  missions  shall  ap- 
point a  competent  committee,  consist- 
ing of  three,  who  shall  apply  to  the 
proper  source  for  an  act  of  incorpora- 
tion on  all  the  Church  property  within 


132  UNITED    BRETHREN 

the  bounds  of  such  circuits,  stationa, 
or  missions  ;  and  at  the  last  quarterly 
conference  of  each  year,  the  presiding 
elder  shall  examine  said  committee  in 
reference  to  the  above  subject. 

2.  When  legacies  are  bequeathed  to 
the  Church,  the  names  of  the  presiding 
bishops  should  be  inserted  in  the  will 
of  the  testator,  to  be  under  the  con- 
trol of  said  bishops  and  their  success- 
ors in  oflfice,  to  be  appropriated  to  the 
purpose  specified  by  the  donors. 

SECTION    XL. 

CERTIFICATES. 

When  members  of  our  society  move 
from  one  place  or  class  to  another, 
they  shall  obtain  a  certificate,  by  the 
vote  of  a  majority  of  the  class  to 
which  they  belong,  signed  by  a  preach- 
er, or  leader;  except  where  they  are 
not  in  reach  of  a  class,  in  which  case 


mSCTPLINE. 


135 


any  of  our  preacbers  may  give  a  cer- 
tificate to  such  persons,  if  they  are 
known  to  be  in  ^ood  standing. 

FORM    OF    CERTIFICATE. 

This  to  certify  that  A.  B.  is  a  mem- 
ber of  good  standing  in  the  Church 
of  the  United   Brethren  in  Christ,  at 

,  and  is  hereby  recommended  to 

the  confidence  and  fellowship  of  Chris- 
tians every-where. 

[Dates,  etc.] 

FORM    OF    TRANSFER. 

This    is    to    certify    that   is   a 

regular or in  the  Church 

pf  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  of 

Annual    Conference  ;    and    is 

hereby  transferred   to  Annual 

Conference  of  said  Church. 


'lo4  UNITED    BRETHRfcN      ' 

SECTION  XLI. 

BOUNDARIES  OF  CONFERENCES. 

Virginia  Conference. — Beginning  at 
the  south-east  corner  of  the  state  of 
Virginia;  thence  along  the  western 
shore  of  the  Chesapeake  Bay  to  Balti- 
more ;  thence  to  Westminster ;  thence 
to  the  summit  of  the  South  Mountain, 
on  the  state  line  between  Maryland 
and  Pennsylvania ;  thence  west  on 
said  line  to  the  summit  of  the  Alle- 
ghany Mountain  ;  thence  south,  along 
the  summit  of  said  mountain,  to  the 
state  line  between  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina ;  thence  east  on  said  line  to 
the  place  of  beginning. 

East  Pennsylvania  Conference. — -Be- 
ginning at  the  point  where  the  line 
between  Pennsylvania  and  Maryland 
crosses  the  Suscjuehannah  river;  thence 
to  the  south-east  corner  of  Snyder  coun- 


DISCIPLINE.  135 

ty ;  theuce  along  the  soutli  line  of  said 
county  across  Shade  Mountain,  to  the 
south-west  corner  of  Snyder  county ; 
thence  north-west  along  the  line  of 
Snyner  and  Mifflin  counties  to  the 
south-east  corner  of  Center  county; 
thence  along  the  line  of  Center  and 
Union  counties  to  the  north-west  cor- 
ner of  Union  county;  thence  north- 
east, along  the  lines  of  Clinton  and 
Union  counties,  across  the  West 
Branch ;  thence  along  the  West  Branch 
to  the  north-west  corner  of  Northum- 
berland county  ;  thence  north-west  to 
the  south-west  corner  of  Bradford 
county ;  thence  4ue  north  to  the  New 
York  state  line,  embracing  all  that 
part  of  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  east 
of  the  above  line. 

Pennsylvania  Conference.  —  Begin- 
ning on  the  summit  of  the  South 
Mountain,  on  the  line  between  Mary- 
land   and    Pennsylvania;     thence     to 


136  UNITED    BRETHREN 

Westminster,  Maryland ;  thence  to 
Baltimore,  including  that  city ;  thence 
along  the  Chesapeake  Bay  and  Sus- 
quehannah  river  to  the  Juniata  river ; 
thence  up  said  river  to  its  source ; 
thence  south,  so  as  not  to  interfere 
with  any  territory  occupied  by  the 
Alleghany  Conference,  to  the  line  be- 
tween Maryland  and  Pennsylvania ; 
yhence  east  to  the  place  of  beginning. 
Alleghany  Conference. —  Beginning 
at  the  south-west  corner  of  Mercer 
county,  Penn. ;  thence  east  to  a  point 
due  south  of  the  south-east  corner  of 
Cattaraugus  county,  N.  Y. ;  thence 
north  to  the  line  between  Pennsylva- 
nia and  New  York ;  thence  east  to 
the  line  of  the  East  Pennsylvania 
Conference  ;  thence  along  the  line  of 
said  conference  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Juniata  river;  thence  up  said  river 
to  its  source ;  thence  along  the  line 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Conference  to  the 


DTSCTPLINE.  1B7 

Maryland  and  Pennsylvania  state  line, 
enibraeino;  all  that  part  of  the  state  of 
Pennsylvania  south  and  west  of  the 
above-described   lines. 

Erie  Conference. — Beginning  on  the 
shore  of  Lake  Erie,  on  the  west  side 
of  Erie  City ;  thence  along  the  old 
pike  to  Meadville ;  thence  down 
French  creek  to  the  Alleghany  river  ; 
thence  down  said  river  to  the  line  of 
the  Alleghany  Conference ;  embracing 
all  that  part  of  Pennsylvania  east  of 
the  above  line,  (not  included  in  the 
Alleghany  Conference),  and  the  state 
of  New  York. 

Wes  tern  Reserve  Confer  en  ce. — B  e  - 
ginnine:  on  the  lake  shore  on  the 
west  side  of  Erie 'City;  thence  along 
the  west  line  of  the  Erie  Conference 
to  Lawrenceburg,  on  the  Alleghany 
river ;  thence  west  to  the  Ohio  state 
line  at  the  south-west  corner  of  Mercer 
county,  Penn. ;  thence  along  the  state 


138  UNITED    BRETHREN 

line  south,  to  tlie  Pennsylvania  and 
Ohio  Kailroad  ;  thence  west,  embrac- 
ing Pleasant  Valley,  Paradise,  and 
Can-  appointments,  with  said  railroad, 
to  the  west  line  of  Ashland  county, 
Ohio  ;  thence  north  to  the  mouth  of 
Vermilion  river ;  thence  east  alon^ 
the  shore  of  Lake  Erie  to  the  place 
of  beginning. 

'  MuRhingum,  Conference. — Beginning 
at  a  point  where  the  Pennsylvania 
and  Ohio  Railroad  crosses  the  line 
between  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio ; 
thence  west  on  the  line  of  said  rail- 
road 'io  the  west  line  of  Ashland 
county,  Ohio,  embracing  Warner's 
Chapel,  Benjamin  Warner's,  and  Low- 
er's appointments  ;  thence  south  to  th^ 
north  line  of  Knox  county;  thence 
west  to  the  north-west  corner  of  said 
county ;  thence  south  to  the  south- 
west corner  of  Knox  county  ;  thence 
east  along  the  lines  of  Knox  and  Co- 


DISCIPLINE.  139 

shocton  counties,  to  Dresden ;  thence 
down  the  Muskingum  river  to  its 
raouth  ;  thence  up  the  Ohio  river  and 
Ohio  state  line  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning. 

t^cioto  Conference. —  Beginning  at 
Dresden,  on  the  Muskingum  river , 
thence  west  on  the  south  lines  of  Co- 
shocton and  Knox  counties  to  the 
south-west  corner  of  Knox  county ; 
thence  to  the  north-west  corner  of 
Trenton  township,  Delaware  county ; 
thence  to  the  south-east  corner  of  Ge- 
noa township,  of  the  same  county ; 
thence  west  on  the  Delaware  county 
line  to  the  Whetstone  river  ;  thence  to 
the  north-west  corner  of  Madison 
county  ;  thence  south,  embracing  Fay- 
ette, Highland,  and  a  part  of  Brown 
county,  to  Ripley,  on  the  Ohio  river ; 
thence  up  said  river  to  the  mouth  of 
Muskingum  river ;  thence  up  said  river 
to  Dresden,  the  place  of  beginning. 


140  UNITED  Brethren 

Sandusky  Conference. — Beginning  at 
fche  mouth  of  the  Vermilion  river,  on 
Lake  Erie  ;  thence  on  an  air-line  south, 
to  the  south-west  corner  of  Ashland 
county ;  thence  with  the  north  and 
west  lines  of  Knox  county,  to  the 
Bouth-west  corner  of  said  county  j 
thence  to  the  north-west  corner  of 
Trenton  township,  Delaware  county ; 
thence  to  the  south-east  corner  of 
Genoa  township,  of  the  same  county; 
thence  west  on  the  Scioto  Conference 
line,  embracing  Pleasant  Valley,  in 
Madison  county  ;  thence  along  the  east 
and  north  lines  of  Union  county,  to 
the  South-east  corner  of  Hardin  coun- 
ty, thence  along  the  east  line  of  said 
county  to  Forest ;  thence  with  the  San- 
dusky, Dayton,  and  Cincinnati  Railroad 
to  Forest ;  thence  west  on  the  Pittsburg 
and  Ft.  Wayne  Railroad  to  Johnstown ; 
thence  to  Cairo ;  thence  to  Kalida ; 
thence  to  Defiance;    thence  down  the 


DISCIPLINE.  14] 

Maumee  river  and  the  southern  shore 
of  Lake  Erie  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning. 

Auglaize  Conference. — Beginning  on 
the  Ohio  and  Indiana  state  line,  at  a 
point  due  west  of  Greenville,  Ohio  ; 
fchence  north  to  the  Bellefontaine 
Kailroad ;  thence  with  said  road  to 
Winchester  ;  thence  on  a  straight  line 
to  the  south-east  corner  of  Hunting- 
ton county ;  thence  on  the  east  line 
of  said  county  north  to  Wabash  river ; 
thence  with  said  river  to  the  crossing 
of  the  Wabash  Valley  Railroad  ;  thence 
with  said  railroad  to  Defiance  ;  thence 
along  the  Sandusky  Conference  line  as 
described  above,  including  Johnstown, 
North  Washington,  and  Dunkirk,  to  a 
point  on  the  west  line  of  Madison 
county,  Ohio,  due  east  of  Urbana ; 
thence  to  Piqua,  including  that  city  ; 
thence  to  Grreenville ;  thence  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 


14L'  UNITED   BRETHREN 

By  special  agreement,  the  Aui;laize 
and  White  River  Conferences  will  oc- 
cupy the  preaching  places  previously 
occupied  by  them  on  either  side  of  the 
line,  but  shall  not  be  permitted  to 
take  up  any  new  appointments  not  in- 
cluded by  the  line. 

Miami  Conference.  —  Beginning  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Great  Miami  river  ; 
thence  north,  on  t,he  line  between  Ohio 
and  Indiana,  to  a  point  due  west  of 
Greenville,  Ohio  ;  thence  east  with  the 
Auglaize  Conference  line,  including 
Greenville  and  Urbana,  to  a  point  on 
the  Madison  county  line  due  east  of 
Urbana ;  thence  south  on  the  east 
lines  of  the  counties  of  Clark,  Green, 
Clinton,  and  a  part  of  Brown  county, 
to  Ripley ;  thence  down  the  Ohio  river 
to  the  place  of  beginning. 

North  Ohio  Conference. — Beginning 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Maumee  river ; 
thence  up  said    river   to  Ft.  Wayne; 


DISCIPLINE.  143 

thenee  on  the  Ft.  Wayne  and  Chicago 

Railroad  to  Columbia,  Whitely  county ; 
thence  due  north  to  the  line  of  Noble 
county;  thence  east  to  the  south-east 
corner  of  said  county ;  thence  north 
on  the  east  line  of  Noble  and  Lagrange 
counties,  to  the  Michigan  state  line ; 
thence  west  on  said  line  to  White  Pig- 
eon ;  thence  east  along  the  Michigan 
Southern  Railroad  to  Monroe  on  Lake 
Erie ;  thence  south  along  the  western 
shore  of  said  lake  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning. 

MlcJilgan  Conference  embraces  all 
that  part  of  the  State  of  Michigan 
lying  north  of  the  Michigan  Southern 
and  Northern  Indiana  Railroad,  except 
that  portion  included  in  the  St.  Joseph 
Conference. 

St.  Joseph  Conference. — Beginning  at 
Peru,  Tnd.,  on  the  Wabash  river ; 
thence  up  said  river  to  Huntington  ; 
thence  by  the  Auglaize  Conference  line 


144  UNITED    BRETHREN 

to  Ft.  Wayne ;  thence  by  the  Michigan 
Conference  line,  as  before  described,  to 
Lake  Michigan ;  thence  along  the  lake 
shore  to  the  line  of  Illinois  and  In- 
diana ;  thence  south  to  Beaver  Lake  * 
thence  to  the  mouth  of  Big  Monon 
Creek ;  thence  down  the  Tippecanoo 
river  to  the  Wabash,  to  Lafayette,  in- 
cluding Lafayette ;  thence  along  tht 
Strawtown  road,  including  the  town  of 
Jefferson,  to  the  Indianapolis  and  Peru 
Kailroad ;  thence  along  said  railroad 
to  the  place  of  beginning,  including 
all  the  towns  and  churches  north  ot 
Kokomo. 

White  River  Conference. — Beginning 
at  and  including  Indianapolis  and  sub- 
urbs ;  thence  up  White  river'  to  the 
crossing  of  the  Indianapolis  and  Peru 
Railroad ;  thence  along  said  railroad 
to  the  Wabash  river  ;  thence  up  said 
river  to  the  Wells  county  line  ;  thence 
south  to  the  south-east  corner  of  Hun- 


DISCIPLINE.  145 

tington  county ;  thence  on  a  straight 
line  to  Winchester ;  thence  eastward 
along  the  railroad  to  the  Ohio  and 
Indiana  state  line ;  thence  south  along 
the  state  line  to  the  south-east  corner 
of  Franklifi  county,  Ind. ;  thence  west- 
ward to  Greensburg ;  thence  to  Co- 
lumbus ;  thence  to  Nashville ;  thence 
west  to  White  river ;  thence  up  the 
river  to  the  south  line  of  Marion 
county  ;  thence  west  to  the  south-west 
corner  of  said  county  ;  thence  north  to 
the  north-west  corner  of  the  same 
county ;  thence  east  on  the  north  line 
to  the  Peru  and  Indianapolis  Railway. 
Kokomo,  and  all  the  towns  and  churches 
on  and  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Indian- 
apolis and  Peru  Railroad,  south,  are 
within  the  bounds  of  White  River  Con- 
ference. All  the  towns  and  churches 
north  of  Kokomo,  on  and  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  said  railroad,  are  within  the 
bounds  of  the  St.  Joseph  Conference. 
10 


146  UNITED   BRETHREN 

Indiana  Conference. — Beginning  at 
the  south-east  corner  of  Franklin 
county,  Ind. ;  thence  along  the  line  of 
the  White  River  Conference,  as  de- 
scribed in  the  boundaries  of  that  con- 
ference, to  the  White  river  due  west 
of  Franklin,  Ind. ;  thence  down  said 
river,  and  the  Wabash,  to  the  Ohio 
river ;  thence  up  said  river  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Great  Miami  river ; 
thence  up  the  state  line  between  Ohio 
and  Indiana  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Parhershurg  Conference. — Beginning 
on  the  summit  of  the  Alleghany  Mount- 
ain, at  the  line  between  Pennsylvania 
and  Virginia  ;  thence  along  the  sum- 
mit of  said  mountain  south-west  to 
the  line  between  Virginia  and  North 
Carolina;  thence  west  on  said  line  to 
the  south-west  corner  of  the  state  of 
Virginia ;  thence  with  the  Virginia 
and  Kentucky  line  north  to  the  Ohio 
river ;    thence  with    said   river   to  the 


DISCIPLINE.  147 

Pennsylvania    state    line ;    thence  east 
on  said  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Lower  WahasTi  Conference. — Begin- 
ning at  Gosport,  on  White  river ; 
thence  with  the  railroad  to  Green- 
castle  ;  thence  with  the  Indianapolis 
and  Terre  Haute  Railroad  to  the  Wa- 
bash river ;  thence  up  said  river  to 
the  mouth  of  Brulett's  Creek  ;  thence 
up  said  creek  to  Cherry  Point ;  thence 
west  OH  the  Air-line  Railroad  to  the 
Ellinois  Conference  line  ;  thence  to 
Shelbyville,  Illinois;  thence  down  the 
Okaw  river  to  Vandalia  ;  thence  south 
with  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  to 
its  junction  with  the  Ohio  and  Mis- 
sissippi Railroad  ;  thence  by  the  Skillet 
Fork  and  Little  Wabash  rivers  to 
Carmi;  thence  down  the  Little  Wa- 
bash river  to  its  mouth ;  thence  up 
the  Wabash  and  White  rivers  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

Upper  Wabash   Conference. — Bc^in- 


148  UNITED    BRETHREN 

ning  at  Gosport,  on  White  river,  to 
the  crossing  of  the  Indianapolis  and 
Peru  Railroad ;  thence  on  the  Straw- 
town  road  to  Lafayette,  on  tht  Wabash 
river ;  thence  up  said  river  to  the 
mouth  of  Tippecanoe  river ;  thence 
up  said  river  to  the  mouth  of  Big 
Monon  creek  ;  thence  in  a  north-west- 
ern direction  to  the  north  extremity 
of  Beaver  Lake;  thence  to  Kankakee 
City ;  thence  south  along  the  Chicago 
Branch  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
to  Urbana;  thence  south-west,  in  the 
direction  of  Shelbyville,  to  the  crossing 
of  the  Air-line  Railroad;  thence  east 
on  said  road  to  Cherry  Point ;  thence 
along  the  line  of  the  Lower  Wabash 
Conference  to  the  place  of  beginning. 
Illinois  Conference. — Beginning  at 
the  junction  of  the  Mississippi  and 
Rock  rivers;  thence  up  the  latter 
stream  to  the  crossing  of  the  Rock 
Island  and  Peru  Railroad;  thence  east 


.DISCIPLINE,  149 

with  said  railroad  to  Peru;  thence 
down  the  IllinoLs  river  to  its  mouth  ; 
thence  up  the  Mississippi  to  the  place 
of  beginning. 

Central  Illiifhois  Conference. — Begin- 
ning at  Peru,  on  the  Illinois  river ; 
thence  up  the  Illinois  river  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Kankakee  river ;  thence 
to  Kankakee  City;  thence  with  the 
Chicago  Branch  of  the  Illinois  Cen 
tral  Railroad  to  Tolono;  thence  with 
the  Grreat  Western  Railway  to  Bement ; 
thence  direct  to  Shelbyville ;  thence 
down  the  Okaw  river  to  Vandalia ; 
thence  direct  to  the  mouth  of  the  Il- 
linois river ;  thence  up  said  river  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

Rock  River  Conference. — Beginning 
at  the  junction  of  the  Mississippi  and 
Rock  rivers;  thence  east  with  Illinois 
Conference  line,  as  above  described,  to 
Kankakee  City,  111. ;  thence  to  the  State 
line    between    Illinois    and    Indiana ; 


150  UNITED    BRETHREN 

thence  nortli  on  said  line  to  Lake  Mich- 
igan; thence  along  the  shore  of  said 
lake,  north,  to  the  line  between  Illinois 
and  Wisconsin  ;  thence  west  with  said 
line  to  the  Mississippi  river  ;  thence 
down  said  river  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning. 

Wisconsin  Conference. — Beginning 
at  Milwaukie,  Wis. ;  thence  south  to 
the  Illinois  state  line  ;  thence  west  on 
the  line  between  Illinois  and  Wiscon- 
sin to  the  Mississippi  river ;  thence 
up  said  river  and  the  Wisconsin  state 
line  to  Lake  Superior ;  thence  with 
the  shore  of  said  lake  and  the  Michi- 
gan and  Wisconsin  state  line  to  the 
Wisconsin  river ;  thence  down  said 
river  to  Portage  City ;  thence  along 
the  Watertown  and  Portage  City  Rail- 
road to  Watertown  ;  thence  along  the 
Milwaukie  and  Watertown  Railroad  to 
the  place  of  beginning. 

JFhx  River   Conference.  —  Beginning 


DISCIPLINE.  151 

at  Milwaukie,  Wis.;  thence  by  the 
railroad  lines  to  Watertown  and  Port- 
age City ;  thence  up  the  Wisconsin 
Kiver  to  the  Michigan  state  line ; 
thence  with  the  state  lines  south-east, 
and  the  western  shore  of  Lake  Mich- 
igan, to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Minnesota  Conference. — Bounded  by 
the  state  lines. 

Iowa  Conference. — Beginning  at  the 
junction  of  the  Mississippi  and  Iowa 
rivers ;  thence  up  said  river  to  the 
southern  boundary  line  of  North  Iowa 
Conference ;  thence  east  and  south 
with  said  line  to  the  Mississippi  river ; 
thence  with  said  river  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

North  Iowa  Conference. — Beginning 
on  the  Mississippi  river  with  the  north 
line  of  the  state  of  Iowa ;  thence  duo 
west  on  said  line  to  the  west  line  of  Win- 
nebago county ;  thence  due  south  to  the 
Dubuque  and  Sioux  City  Railroad  line  ; 


k 


152  UNITED    BRETHREN 

thence  east  to  the  west  line  of  Dela- 
ware county  ;  thence  due  south  to  the 
south  line  of  township  numbered  86 ; 
thence  due  east  along  said  township  line 
to  the  Mississippi  river ;  thence  along 
said  river  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

East  De&  Moines  Conference. — Begin- 
ning at  the  mouth  of  the  Iowa  river ; 
thence  up  said  river  to  the  east  line 
of  Marshall  county,  Iowa ;  thence 
south  to  the  Mahaska  county  line ; 
thence  west  to  the  corner  of  said 
county ;  thence  south  to  the  Des  Moines 
river ;  thence  up  said  river  to  White 
Breast  creek ;  thence  up  said  creek  to 
the  west  line  of  Marion  county  ;  thence 
south  to  the  corner  of  said  county; 
thence  south-west  to  the  Wayne  county 
line,  six  miles  east  of  the  north-west 
corner  of  said  county ;  thence  south 
twelve  miles;  thence  west  six  miles; 
thence  south  to  the  Missouri  state 
line ;  thence  east  on  the  line  between 


DISCIPLINE.  153 

Iowa  and  Missouri  to  the  Mississippi 
river ;  thence  up  said  river  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

West  Des  Moines  Conference.  —  Be- 
ginning on  the  north  line  of  the  state, 
at  the  north-east  corner  of  Kossuth 
county ;  thence  west  to  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  state ;  thence  down 
Big  Sioux  river  to  its  mouth  ;  thence 
west  to  the  north-west  corner  of 
Blackbird  county,  Nebraska ;  thence 
south  to  the  south  line  of  Nebraska ; 
thence  east  to  Missouri  river,  and  up 
said  river  to  the  south-west  corner  of 
the  state  of  Iowa ;  thence  east  on 
the  state  line  to  the  south-east  corner 
of  Decatur  county ;  thence  along  the 
boundary  lines  of  East  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  and  North  Iowa  Conferences,  to 
the  place  of  beginning. 

Missouri  Conference.— -^mhraees  all 
that  part  of  the  State  of  Missouri  lying 
north  of  the  Missouri  River. 


154   UNITED  BRETHREN  DISCIPLINE. 

Kansas  Conference. — Beginning  on 
the  west  line  of  the  West  Des  Moines 
Conference  at  its  intersection  with  the 
Platte  River;  thence  up  said  river  to 
the  Colorado  Territory  line ;  thence 
south  along  the  west  lines  of  Nebraska 
and  Kansas  to  the  thirty-eighth  paral- 
lel of  north  latitude  ;  thence  east  with 
said  parallel  to  the  east  line  of  Kan- 
sas; thence  north  on  said  line  and  the 
boundary  of  the  West  Des  Moines  Con- 
ference to  the  place  of  beginning. 

Ontario  Conference  embraces  the 
whole  of  Upper  Canada. 

Oregon  Conference  includes  the  state 
of  Oregon  and  Washington  Territory. 

California  Conference. — Includes  the 
state  of  California. 

Cascade  Conference. — Includes  all 
the  territory  of  Washington  north  and 
east  of  the  Cascade  Mountains. 

Osage  Conference. — Embraces  all  of 
the  State  of  Missouri  south  of  the  Mis- 


DISCIPLINE.  155 

souri  river,  and  all  of  tlie  State  of 
Kansas  south  of  the  thirty-eighth  par- 
allel of  north  latitude. 

Tennessee  Conference. — Is  bounded  by 
the  Cumberland  and  Paint  Rock  mount- 
ains. 

OMo  German  Conference. — Bounded 
by  the  state  lines  of  Ohio,  including 
Covington  and  Newport,  Ky.,  and  the 
German  works  in  the  state  of  Indijipa 
and  south-eastern  Illinois. 

East  German  Conference. — Embraces 
all  the  territory  in  Pennsylvania  and 
Maryland  east  of  the  Alleghany  mount- 
ains. 


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BX9878.52.A11869 

Ong.n,  doctrine,  constitution,  and 

nlri^miS^rl^^'^ff^eminary-Speer  Library 


1    1012  00045  6097 


